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When Michael Carrick retired at the end of last season, Manchester United had to appoint a new club Captain. There were quite a few capable candidates, however, the arm band went to Antonio Valencia, who had joined United in the summer of 2009 and was the longest serving player at the club.
The Ecuadorian's selection was widely accepted, as he had been an important part of the team and was the first choice right back at the club. However, his loss of form, injuries and friction with Mourinho had reduced him to a bit part role in the club. Even after Solskjaer's arrival, he has failed to break into the team and as such, questions about his future are looming large.
Whether he stays or leaves might be a part of a different debate, but should Manchester United look for a new Skipper to inspire the team, there are the 5 candidates for the role right now.
#5 Chris Smalling
The Englishman is one of the players who have been at the club for a long time now and is also United's most experienced central defender ! As such, Chris Smalling remains a contender for the next Manchester United Captain, should the need arise in the near future.
Smalling had captained United 14 times in the 2016/17 season, including in the EFL Cup Final where United defeated Sunderland. He is currently sidelined with a foot injury that has seen him miss more than a month of action and as such, he has not been involved under Solskjaer until now.
This has seen him drop down the pecking order and the competition now is quite fierce. But the English defender is an experienced campaigner who has won 2 Premier League titles, 1 FA Cup, 1 EFL Cup, three Community Shields and also the UEFA Europa League with United.
As such, Smalling does know what it means to be a Manchester United player and has the knowledge of the club to carry out the role of a skipper well. However, the defender's performances do not warrant a permanent place in the first team. He also lacks the leadership qualities to arrange his team and to inspire them.
As such, even though Chris Smalling is among the top five contenders for the next Manchester United Captain, he is not the favourite for the role right now.
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#4 Ashley Young
The Englishman joined Manchester United from Aston Villa in June 2011, primarily as a right winger. However, his versatility soon proved to be an asset, as he could play on either side of the field as well as through the middle. Young has a Premier League winner's medal, and has also won the FA Cup, the EFL Cup, the Community Shield as well as the UEFA Europa League and as such, he has that winning mentality embedded in him.
After the appointment of Louis van Gaal, Young modified his game and became a left back and was so good in the role that he was selected for the part in the England squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. He is a fighter and a survivor and has all the necessary leadership skills in his arsenal.
This season, Young has played both as left back and right back, and has excelled in each role. He has captained the team in the absence of Valencia, leading them out 19 times already, including 6 times in Solskjaer's first 8 games in charge!
As such, Ashley Young is a strong contender for the next Manchester United Captain and he will be giving every man in this list a stiff competition.
#3 Paul Pogba
There isn't much Paul Pogba cannot do on a football field. The Frenchman can defend, he can attack, he can dribble and he can score goals too. Since Solskjaer's appointment, Pogba has been in fantastic form and has been leading from the front on many occasions. He is the one player who brings that X-Factor into this United team.
As such, it is only normal that he is a strong contender for the captaincy. A Skipper is supposed to show the way, he is supposed to inspire and he is supposed to rescue the team when the going gets tough. Paul Pogba has shown recently that he has all the abilities to lead from the front and be the man his team can always count upon.
The Frenchman is now a prime contender for the Skipper's post, however, Pogba does have a few areas that need a fix. He does have a tendency to drift in and out of games even now and his attitude and desire are still questionable at times. But if he manages to address these issues, there is no reason why Paul Pogba cannot be the next Manchester United captain.
#2 David De Gea
The Spaniard is probably the one man in the team who deserves to lead the side out every single game. He had been fantastic for United last season but has experienced a tough first half of the season this time. However, to say De Gea's form or abilities have diminished is fool's talk, and the Spaniard showed against Tottenham why he still is the best goalkeeper around right now.
Maybe he deserves a lot more trophies in his cabinet, but David De Gea has already won the Premier League, FA Cup, EFL Cup, Community Shield and the UEFA Europa League with Manchester United. He has attracted the attention of all the big clubs in the world and as such, perhaps giving him the arm band could be a masterstroke from the management at Old Trafford.
But De Gea certainly knows how much he is valued at Manchester United. The love and adulation he receives from the fans know no bounds and if he does put on the arm band, every since Manchester United fan will be proud to have him as their leader.
#1 Ander Herrera
Even though he joined United in the summer of 2014, it feels like Ander Herrera belongs to Manchester United. His way of talking, his presentation and his love for the club has made him the darling of Old Trafford in recent times. The way he speaks about Manchester United almost gives a feeling that he is a fan himself and his cheerful demeanor has the ability to improve everyone's mood.
On the field though, the Spaniard is a beast. He is unrelenting, uncompromising and determined. There isn't much that gets past him and time and again he has shown what an asset he is for his club. Herrera can defend, he can attack; he can play as a regista or as a box to box midfielder and most importantly, he always seems to put his team ahead of himself.
However, it is his intelligence on the field that demands respect. Herrera's understanding of the game is unparalleled and his infectious energy in the middle of the park keeps his teammates on their toes. He knows how to set the pace of the game and is the unsung hero of this United team.
On the pitch, Ander Herrera is a leader, and at present, is the top contender to take over the arm band from Antonio Valencia.
