- Erik ten Hag remains under heavy scrutiny after Man United lost to Arsenal
- Jason McAteer says a player told him the Dutchman will be replaced
- Erik ten Hag’s potential replacement must watch out for ‘micromanager’ Sir Jim Ratcliffe – Listen to the It’s all starting! podcast
Former Liverpool midfielder Jason McAteer claims a current player at the club told him who the next Manchester United manager will be.
The Red Devils continued their dismal season by losing 1-0 against Arsenal at Old Trafford.
There remain a number of question marks surrounding Erik ten Hag’s future at the club, with United on course for their worst points tally in the Premier League with two games remaining.
Ten Hag guided United to third place, an FA Cup final and Carabao Cup success in his first season in charge, but has seen his good work unravel this season with a mountain of injuries decimating his squad.
McAteer has revealed that a current United player suggested to him in a recent conversation that Ten Hag will not be on the touchline next season and will be replaced.
Jason McAteer claims he was told who the next Man United manager will be
Erik ten Hag remains under heavy scrutiny after Manchester United lost to Arsenal on Sunday
“He plays for Man United and I had a conversation with him on Friday, I met him because I live just outside the area,” McAteer said on beIN Sport.
“We started talking, great guy, and I asked him (about) the end of the season and what he thought and he didn’t tell me the coach was there to stay.”
“We actually talked about different names and who we thought would be a good fit and I didn’t get any inclination from him.”
Asked how the player reacted when Thomas Tuchel was mentioned, McAteer said: “Smile(ed) but that wasn’t the name.” He then said “no” when they mentioned José Mourinho.
Richard Keys then mentioned Gareth Southgate, to which McAteer replied: “Yeah, that was the name.”
The Red Devils are on course for their worst points tally in the Premier League with three games remaining.
“Football players have an inclination when the coach’s job is at stake and obviously they know it and I have the feeling that it’s done, it’s done.”
England manager Southgate has been linked with Manchester United in recent months and, with his FA contract expiring in December, his future is uncertain.
Ten Hag has been optimistic about his future, believing that common sense will prevail when United’s owners decide his future as manager.
The Dutchman is well aware that his compatriot Louis van Gaal was sacked by United despite winning the FA Cup in 2016, but claims Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos will understand the chronic injury problems in defense when they sit down to evaluate his performance. in the season finale.
McAteer says he was told England manager Gareth Southgate will replace Ten Hag next term
Asked if concerns about Van Gaal’s precedent worry him, Ten Hag said on Friday: “No, I think they (the owners) have common sense.”
“They’ve seen when you have 32 different defensive lines, when you lose eight center backs, when we see that we don’t have a left back, they know that will have a negative impact on the results.
“But we are still fighting and it is a great FA Cup final. We are still there, it may be the highlight of the season, but we know why we are underperforming.”
