Ferdinand explains why Man Utd are struggling to find their next manager
Cameron Smith
- Updated: 29 Mar 2022 20:08 BST
- 3 min read
Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand believes there aren't any managers who would be perfect for his former club this summer.
Current head coach Ralf Rangnick is set to leave his role in the dugout in order to switch to a job as a consultant for the club this summer which will leave the manager job vacant.
However, Ferdinand doesn't think there is anyone on the market who would be ideal for the role.
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Erik ten Hag and Mauricio Pochettino, currently managing Ajax and Paris Saint-Germain respectively, are reportedly the two frontrunners for the job, with Manchester Evening News even reporting that Ten Hag has had interviews with the club, but Ferdinand isn't convinced.
The pundit, who joined Man Utd from Leeds in 2002 and went on to make over 450 appearances for the Old Trafford club during an illustrious career, understands the appeal of the aforementioned pair, but told TalkSport that Man Utd aren't in the same position as rivals Manchester City were in a few years ago.
What has been said?
Ferdinand, appearing on TalkSport's White and Jordan show, spoke of the uncertainty around who will become the next manager, and believes this is a worry.
"None of us have got an answer where we’re all going ‘Oh, that’s the definite person’. I think there would be shouts for people like [Mauricio] Pochettino, I’m sure, obviously [Erik] ten Hag. They’re the two frontrunners people are talking about," he said.
"Listen, it’s a toss of a coin, I don’t know. There’s no one where you’re going ‘oh, ok’, for instance there’s not a Pep [Guardiola] out there right now who’s available.
“When Manchester City were out there looking for a manager they thought right that’s the go-to guy who you’re going to get 100 per cent certainty from and think ‘he’s perfect’."
Man Utd currently face a struggle to finish in the top four in the Premier League this season, and so the draw of Champions League football may allude them. The club haven't won the English top flight since Sir Alex Ferguson's departure, and Ferdinand understands the significance that decisions made this summer will have.
"I think everybody who’s out there, there’ll be people saying ‘oh well it’s not quite worked at that club, that’s not the level of competition that they’re going to be used to when coming to the Premier League’.
"So I think it’s a very difficult one but it’s very significant appointment to be made by the Man United hierarchy and they’ve got to get this one right," he added.
Manchester United face Leicester City at home this Saturday, looking to bounce back from their Champions League last-16 exit to Spanish side Atletico Madrid last time out.
