Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim is under extreme pressure to right the ship at Old Trafford quickly following a difficult start to the season
Glasner was recently linked to United as a potential replacement for under pressure Ruben Amorim(Image: 2025 Getty Images)
Former Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson has warned Manchester United to avoid hiring Crystal Palace head coach Oliver Glasner as Ruben Amorim’s replacement should the Portuguese manager resign or be sacked.
Amorim is under increased scrutiny at present following the poor start to the season. United’s only victories have come in a rollercoaster contest against Burnley and a couple of weeks ago against Chelsea where the visitors were at a man disadvantage for a considerable period of the game.
Last Saturday’s defeat to Brentford ramped up the pressure on the United head coach with many reports suggesting that Amorim could be headed for an exit. For the time being, the manager remains in place but concerns linger as to what the future could hold should United lose to Sunderland at the weekend.
A number of names have been linked with the United job should Amorim depart, including Glasner who has worked wonders at Palace. He is a popular choice among supporters after he led The Eagles to the FA Cup last season and they are currently the only unbeaten team in the Premier League.
However, writing in his column for Sky Sports, Merson is adamant that Glasner is not the right man for United. “He’s a brilliant manager,” the pundit admitted.
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“He doesn’t get too up and doesn’t get too down. It’s very impressive.
“He’s put a team together and they are all very comfortable in their positions. Everyone knows their job in the team.
“Let’s say Ruben Amorim was manager at Palace now, he’d have half a chance of being a success. Palace have the players to play three at the back.
“They have the attributes in their squad to play in that system. For me, that’s why I’d be concerned about Glasner going to Man United.
“He’s a three-at-the-back man and it is being proven that it is a system that just doesn’t fit the players at Man United. Glasner is not a good fit for Man United.
“Of course, I’m sure he’d be adaptable, and he’s proven with how he handles the players, but the system he uses is just all wrong for United. Amorim can tell you that.”
If it is not to be Glasner, other contenders for the United job include – according to the bookmakers bet365 – former England head coach Gareth Southgate, ex-Barcelona man Xavi and AFC Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola. Amorim will next speak to the media on Friday ahead of the clash with Sunderland.
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