As pressure intensifies on Erik ten Hag, the reasons Zinedine Zidane previously declined the Manchester United managerial role have resurfaced. Despite Manchester United’s esteemed history and global stature, Zidane has expressed hesitation about taking on the challenge at Old Trafford, with language being a significant concern.
At 54 years old, Ten Hag faces a difficult situation after suffering two defeats in just three Premier League games this season, the most painful being a 3-0 loss to Liverpool. This has heightened the scrutiny on his performance. Meanwhile, Zidane, who has been without a managerial role since leaving Real Madrid in 2021, has often been linked with the Manchester United job during times of managerial instability.
However, the chances of Sir Jim Ratcliffe persuading Zidane to reconsider and take the helm at Old Trafford seem slim unless Zidane has changed his stance on managing in England. Zidane was notably connected to the club in 2021 following Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s departure, but despite the allure of managing one of the world’s biggest clubs, he ultimately declined the opportunity.
In an interview with L’Equipe shortly after rejecting the United job, Zidane cited the language barrier as a major reason for his decision. While he understands English, he admitted that he does not have complete mastery of the language.
Zidane acknowledged that although some coaches take on roles without fully speaking the local language, his approach to winning is complex and requires a comprehensive perspective. He emphasized that his methods involve many factors and that overcoming the language barrier might be too great a challenge for him to implement his strategies successfully.
Whether Zidane’s English proficiency has improved remains unclear. If not, Ratcliffe and Manchester United’s leadership may need to exclude him from consideration as a serious candidate. Earlier reports from France suggested that Zidane had shown some interest in the Manchester United job before Ten Hag signed his contract, but it remains uncertain whether Zidane’s position has softened.
Interestingly, Zidane is not the only high-profile name linked to Manchester United. Former Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel was also in discussions with United after leaving Bayern Munich last season. Although negotiations progressed, United chose to stick with Ten Hag amid rumors that Tuchel was unhappy with the club’s transfer policy and overall direction.
The future remains uncertain for both Ten Hag and Manchester United. While speculation continues regarding potential replacements, Zidane remains a sought-after manager, but his reservations about language and other factors still cast doubt on his future in the Premier League.
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