'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
When Jose Mourinho came into Manchester United, he was thought to be the guy to finally replace Sir Alex and bring the glory days back to United.
We have all seen how that turned out for United.
This is Manchester United, the same team that used to strike fear in the spines of their opponents before they even took to the field. United is in total shambles, the defence simply can’t stop conceding while the attack is not scoring enough goals. In fact, United has a goal difference of zero, can you imagine?
This team is a shadow of what they used to be under the great Scot’s man, Sir Alex Ferguson.
With the appointment of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, it is highly expected that United will abandon the pragmatic playing style that they were used to under the Portuguese for a more attacking style of play. We are waiting to see if this happens.
The Norwegian has been appointed on a temporary basis -- though still early to speculate -- United will be in the hunt for a more permanent manager at the end of the season.
There have been reports of Mauricio Pochettino or Zidane taking over the club at the end of the season. But are they the right candidates for the job?
Manchester United has proven to be a monster for most managers, pedigree notwithstanding.
Who can tame this giant of a club?
Antonio Conte is the man United should really be looking at.
Why should Manchester United consider the Italian instead of the other contenders?
# 1. He’s Free
Since he left Chelsea at the end of last season, Antonio Conte hasn’t gotten a new job.
There were rumours of him taking over Real Madrid at some point, but that didn’t happen. United should pounce on the opportunity early enough before he agrees on a deal with another club if they don’t want the Guardiola mistake to happen again.
Getting him while he’s still out of a job will be much easier than their top candidate (Pochettino).
# 2. Change of Playing Style
Manchester United sure do need a new playing style, especially after three years of the pragmatic Portuguese at the helm. There’s no doubt that Mourinho is a fine manager, but his style of play just didn’t suit the United way.
His style of play was way too negative that even some United players claimed they wanted to attack more than just defend.
With a quick transition style of play, Conte will bring exactly what has been missing in the United team since Sir Alex left the club.
Also, the other thing that will endear him to United fans is that he'll allow players like Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford to express themselves on the field. Both these players have been burdened with defensive duties under Mourinho that they never really got going for United.
Couple that with a pressing style of play, it is safe to imagine the kind of impact Ander Herrera may have under Conte.
# 3. Change in Formation
Have you ever seen a Manchester United lineup and concluded in your mind that they were going to lose? That’s the kind of horror Mourinho subjected United fans to some of the time.
Conte will bring a sense of stability as to who will start in every game and where exactly they were going to play.
At Juventus, Conte favoured the 5-3-2 formation and it worked a treat for them during his stint there. He still played the same formation when he was Gli Azzurri’s boss until he left to take over Chelsea.
At Chelsea, the Italian used a 3-4-3 formation and managed to win the Premier League in his first season in charge.
At United, he will have players at his disposal to play in both formations. And with Pogba thriving in a 3-5-2 under Conte, he may choose that for United.
With this formation, a number of United players like Shaw, Pogba and Darmian will thrive.
# 4. Get the Best Out Of Pogba
Who made Paul Pogba shine after he left United first time around? Who made sure that the young French kid from Manchester United got consistent playing time and developed into a star? Well, you guessed right, Antonio Conte did all that.
Without Conte’s influence on Pogba, the French man would probably never have been the star that he is today.
Conte managed to get the best out of Pogba by playing to his strengths and had midfielders to help the French star to shine.
If Manchester United are to see the best out of their record signing, then Conte is the man to make it happen.
With Conte at the helm, they will be sure that their huge investment doesn’t go to waste.
Paul Pogba is a talented player, no doubt, but he needs a gentle guiding hand like Conte to help him reach his full potential.
# 5. He will work with the playing staff he has
Do you remember when Conte took over at Chelsea? Wholesale changes were expected but that’s not what he did.
He brought in a few players to complement what he already had at his disposal. United’s board from the look of things; don’t want wholesale changes to the playing staff at the club as most fans would have.
Conte is a manager that is able to bring out the best in all his players in every game with his excellent man management skills.
Most of the United players, under Mourinho, have looked short on confidence and that is something that Conte can fix real quick. The current crop of players, while not being world-class but a few, have the hallmarks of being more than the decent players they have been made to look.
Conte will inspire confidence and belief into these players if he was to be appointed.
# 6. Egos to Be Checked
While Jose Mourinho came in with a reputation of being a winner, he just didn’t get along with some of the players in his dressing room.
Conte is a former football professional and that alone will make him get the respect of the players that will be under him.
He has also shown during his stints at both Chelsea and Juventus that he is a winner and that will rub off in the dressing room.
Also, he is believed to be strict about rules as much as Fergie so don’t expect dressing room fallouts to be in the public light as much as with Mourinho.
Bottom Line
With ego’s being checked and a new playing style on top of a new formation, if Manchester United want a manager of substance and who will instantly gain the respect of the dressing room.
Then Antonio Conte should be high up on the possible long-term prospects to replace Jose Mourinho
