Man Utd news: Pundit gives verdict on Antonio Conte replacing Jose Mourinho
MANCHESTER UNITED will NOT ditch Jose Mourinho and appoint Antonio Conte.
Posted Friday, August 24, 2018 by Dailystar.co.uk
That’s according to ESPN pundit Gabriele Marcotti who reckons the old rivals are too similar.
Mourinho is feeling the heat after a difficult few months at the Premier League giants.
The Portuguese was desperate to sign a defender during the transfer window - but club chiefs refused to sanction a new arrival.
To make matters worse, United slumped to a shock 3-2 defeat to Brighton on Saturday.
Ex-Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane has been touted as a potential replacement for Mourinho.
Marcotti reckons Conte - who left Chelsea in the summer - would be a safer bet than Zidane.
However, he insists Conte’s preferred style of football and approach to the press may put off United bigwigs.
"I’ll say this about Zidane,” Marcotti said.
"Zidane was obviously brilliant at Real Madrid with the Champions League, but the Real Madrid job and what he walked into with the players already there, having won a Champions League two years before, it’s very unlike anything else.
Man Utd have been linked with ex-Chelsea boss Antonio Conte
"He was there, he knew the club inside out. So in some ways I think there is a logic behind Conte.
"The reason Conte may not be the ideal successor to Mourinho is that I think there are definitely some parallels between him and Mourinho, especially when it comes to being demanding in the transfer market and perhaps making your feelings known.
"Maybe some parallels in the football as well.
"I would imagine that if and when Mourinho goes, and it might not be for a while, I would imagine the club, as clubs often do, would go for a very different type of manager.”
Man Utd boss Jose Mourinho is feeling the heat
Mourinho has also become embroiled in a high-profile spat with Paul Pogba.
The France international is now being targeted by La Liga champions Barcelona.
Paul Ince - who played 208 Premier League games for the Red Devils - says his former club are becoming a basket case.
He told Paddy Power: “Other clubs and fans are having a field day at the minute, seeing what is happening at Manchester United.
Man Utd have also been linked with Zinedine Zidane
"They’re becoming a laughing stock, and falling behind.
"They finished second last season, and will probably make the top four this year, but is that what they should be striving for? No.
"Realistically, their goal should be to win the Premier League.
"But they just cannot compete with Manchester City or Liverpool at the minute.”
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