Ruben Amorim remains Manchester United’s head coach for the time being but questions have been asked regarding who might end up replacing the Portuguese at Old Trafford
Former England striker Peter Crouch believes Gareth Southgate could be just what Manchester United need if they decide to part ways with Ruben Amorim. Portuguese coach Amorim is under extreme pressure less than a year since he took charge at Old Trafford, and Crouch believes the cultural changes Southgate brought in with the national team could help turn things around.
Amorim boasts fewer points per game than any other United boss in Premier League history, and last weekend’s defeat at Brentford prompted more questions over his future. Southgate’s name has been one of those mentioned, and Crouch can see the logic.
“I love Gareth [and] he’s had some stick unfairly,” Crouch said. “He took us to the finals. It was frustrating, you know, not to get over the line [but] if he won one game, then would there be a statue of him.
“He’s gone from a statue to people thinking he’s not good enough for the Man United job. It’s such a fine line in football. I think he’s someone that could build something there. You keep getting managers over that are here for the short of term like I think Gareth Southgate is someone who can build something big.”
Crouch believes Amorim’s time could well be up if United lose to Sunderland to leave themselves with seven points from seven games. And, if the higher-ups agree a change is needed, he is confident Southgate ticks the boxes.
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“Is he the sexy manager the Man United fans want? Maybe not, but, you know, what he did, he built a club atmosphere, which at times was not like that [with England],” Crouch continued. “He built a relationship between the press and the public, with the team… and if he can do that with England, I think he can do that with Man United.
“The disconnect between the fans and the team is the biggest I’ve ever seen it. And he’s proven that he can kind of bring that back and create an atmosphere where the players want to go and play.
“They [his England players] felt like they were a club and they enjoyed going to England camps. And if you look at the players now, they don’t look like they’re enjoying it at United, and if he can create that kind of harmony, again it’s not to be sniffed at.”
England were at a low ebb when Southgate took over from Sam Allardyce, initially on an interim basis, just months after a Euro 2016 exit at the hands of Iceland under Roy Hodgson. It took just one tournament cycle for changes to begin, though, and the Three Lions followed their run to the 2018 World Cup semi-finals by reaching the Euros finals in 2021 and 2024.
It might take United longer to climb back to the upper reaches of the Premier League, but Crouch feels the last decade at Old Trafford points to something deeper than just one manager struggling. “[Jose] Mourinho, [Louis] Van Gaal, David Moyes, they’re not bad managers, right? They’ve proven that after they’ve left the club,” he added.
“It feels like there’s something rotten within the dressing room, maybe higher up, and has that been addressed now, who knows? We’re not seeing it on the pitch, but there’s something at Manchester United where it’s just not been working since Alex Ferguson left. and that needs addressing.”
He accepted comparisons might be drawn with England’s situation in 2016: “It wasn’t good is what I’m saying. There was a total disconnect between the fans and the nation and there is that with Man United, there are some parallels between them.”
Paddy Power’s Peter Crouch was speaking at the launch of Paddy’s Sportsbook at The Hippodrome Casino
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