Where now for Manchester United? Is Zidane really the man for them?

ZIZOU

Zizou is in the frame to be the next United manager

Zinedine Zidane, or Zizou, is evidently one of the best players who has ever lived. He’s done it all – he’s played for some of the biggest clubs on Earth. He’s won the World Cup, the Champions League, the European Championships, and numerous league titles and individual awards. He’s scored great goals, and as a manager won three back to back Champions Leagues. Few managers have ever won three of them, let alone three consecutive titles.

There is a mitigating point of managing Ronaldo, Marcelo, Ramos, Kroos, Modric, Benzema, etc. is essentially a global dream team. This may seem disrespectful in some form – but nobody can deny the eminent quality of the Real Madrid side. However, it still takes a manager of nous to bring the best from them, and it was only the astronomically high expectations of Real Madrid that cost him. United’s expectations are not as crunching, albeit challenging and winning is paramount.

Zidane certainly is used to big club pressures. He also would play “sexy football”, which is a Man United tradition pre-dating Sir Alex and going back to Sir Matt Busby. Clearly, the pragmatic football under Mourinho is a negative of his tenure, at least from a fans’ perspective.

Zizou is the evident candidate, though Conte is another option. However, Conte is like Mourinho in playing pragmatic football, though he has obvious Premier League winning experience. His Chelsea team, until Pep/City last season, won the most games ever for a league title winning side in England, and he got the best from talents like Hazard.

At this point of the season, it’s unlikely Napoli would release Ancelotti, Monaco for Jardim, Atletico Madrid for Simeone, or Juve for Allegri. Arsene Wenger is available, though this won’t fly for various reasons.

Zidane also could work well with Rashford, Martial, Lingard, Lindelof, and other youngsters, given his tenure at Real Madrid as a youth coach.

Zizou is the apparent choice and could do well in the end.

5 – Zizou expectations\