Just days after winning the FA Cup, Manchester United have reportedly added another name to the list of managers who could replace Erik ten Hag this summer.
According to the Mail Sport, Roberto De Zerbi has emerged as a surprise option to take over for ten Hag should Manchester United sack the Dutchman. The report claims Red Devils higher-ups reached out to De Zerbi’s representatives this week about a potential move.
De Zerbi resigned from the Brighton job, following the Seagulls’ 2-0 loss to Manchester United on the last day of the Premier League season.
For many Manchester United fans, De Zerbi is the ideal candidate to replace ten Hag. When you look at the potential managerial options, those fans are probably right.
De Zerbi’s teams play in a well-defined, attacking style. This would be a welcome site at Manchester United after two years of Erik ten Hag. The former Ajax boss often rolled out teams who played with no clear tactical plan.
Ten Hag’s Manchester United were also incredibly poor in defense. Only Sheffield United allowed more shots against them than the Red Devils. Man Utd also allowed the fifth most xG allowed in the league.
Brighton under De Zerbi were also criticized for being leaky at the back. However, this criticism is way overblown. This becomes clear when you look at the numbers.
Only Manchester City, Tottenham, and Liverpool averaged more possession per match than De Zerbi’s Brighton. As we all learned from Pep Guardiola’s legendary Barcelona teams, keeping the ball is one of the best ways to limit opposition chances.
Man City, Liverpool, and Arsenal are the only teams who allowed fewer touches in their own defensive third than Brighton. The Seagulls also finished in the top seven for xGA, shots allowed, and shot creating actions allowed. Manchester United ranked in the bottom five in each of the same categories.
Besides the numbers, De Zerbi is exactly the kind of figure Manchester United need right now.
The Sir Jim Ratcliffe era at Manchester United starts this summer. This new era should be led by a progressive, exciting manager, not by a manager Manchester United fans already know isn’t good enough.
