Man Utd looking to hire “the best manager in Europe”

Manchester United’s defeat against Leeds United on Monday sent a timely reminder that perhaps interim managers aren’t always supposed to take the permanent gig.

After an impressive start, Michael Carrick has now won two of his last five games and arguably lost the backing of INEOS, who are now looking elsewhere.

Just when it looked as though the Red Devils could have an Ole Gunnar Solskjaer repeat, their biggest rivals have handed them a reality check that Carrick simply cannot cash.

Who arrives now is the big question. Several names have already threatened to steal the headlines, including Julian Nagelsmann.

The latest on Man United’s manager hunt

Nagelsmann is undoubtedly one of the best young managers in Europe. He may even be the standout candidate on that front with reports emerging in recent days that the United hierarchy are set to hold talks with his camp.

In short, he’s everything that Man United thought Ruben Amorim would be and so much more, but he would bring no guarantee of success at Old Trafford.

The German manager had his weaknesses exposed at Bayern Munich, who wanted old-fashioned success from a manager who travelled through the training ground on a remote-control skateboard. It was never going to work out as soon as Nagelsmann rolled through the door.

Whilst Nagelsmann’s side are so often outrageously clinical going forward, with his Bayern side scoring 255 goals in just 84 games, there are some defensive concerns.

It’s worth noting that this Man United side are not close to the level of his Bayern side, either. Whilst his system saw the Bavarian side concede a goal a game, it’s since conceded 33 goals in 31 games at Germany and could do far worse damage at Old Trafford.

At a time when the Premier League is so pragmatic, it’s costly to be so open defensively even if it does result in some much-needed, scintillating attacking displays.

There must be balance from whoever arrives and, like Bayern, it’s hard to imagine a world in which Sir Jim Ratcliffe is a fan of Nagelsmann’s skateboard.

The German should be one of the leading candidates, but Man United’s priority should still be Luis Enrique. The Paris Saint-Germain manager is as close as Pep Guardiola that they’re going to get.

Indeed, according to United reporter David McDonnell, INEOS are looking at Enrique for Man United in what would be the perfect appointment this summer.

He is on a shortlist of managers that also includes Aston Villa’s Unai Emery and Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola.

Why Enrique would be better than Nagelsmann

It will feel like Groundhog Day for those at Old Trafford if Enrique arrives, but this time is different. This is no Jose Mourinho or Louis van Gaal.

This is not a big name for the sake of a big name. Instead, this is an innovator, a European champion, and someone that the Premier League needs just as much as Man United.

He has done what somehow seemed to be the impossible at PSG by winning the Champions League and a historic treble last season. Even Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar couldn’t secure such an honour. The Spaniard, however, in a system rather than a team of individuals, has turned the French giants into the best team in Europe.

23 defeats in 164 games is an incredible record and whilst some may question the quality of opponents in Ligue 1, it’s worth noting who PSG have come up against in the Champions League.

They battered Chelsea and Liverpool in Europe this season, defeated Barcelona at the Nou Camp in the league phase and smashed Real Madrid in the Club World Cup in the summer.

In previous years, the biggest concern for any top manager at Man United would be the recruitment for their system. Those concerns, with INEOS at the helm, should be put to bed.

The Red Devils have got their recruitment spot on in the last 12 months and should hire a man who was dubbed the “best manager in Europe” by Jamie Carragher to add the finishing touches.