Roy Keane has long-held one man as an ideal target to become Manchester United head coach, with the club now being urged to snub Michael Carrick despite his promising start
Michael Carrick has been praised for his stint in charge of Manchester United, but an alternative name has been recommended to take charge permanently(Image: (Photo by James Fearn/Getty Images))
Manchester United have again been told to appoint Diego Simeone as their permanent head coach over Michael Carrick. Roy Keane is one pundit that has made it clear he is a huge fan of the Atletico Madrid boss, with United’s legendary midfielder of the belief he would bring “good havoc” to the club.
Carrick, meanwhile, has arguably done the complete opposite with the basics honed and United looking much better than they did under Ruben Amorim. Though he has only been brought in as interim head coach until the end of the season, Carrick has put himself in a strong position to potentially be in charge beyond then.
A fifth consecutive victory was the target last Tuesday evening, but United were forced to settle for a point against West Ham after triumphs over Manchester City, Arsenal, Fulham and Tottenham. In the meantime, United have been linked to several managers, including England boss Thomas Tuchel.
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A contract extension for the 52-year-old announced earlier this week is expected to see interest from Old Trafford drop off. Carlo Ancelotti, Luis Enrique and Julian Nagelsmann are some other elite-level options mooted, with Simeone a name that continues to be mentioned.
Former Premier League midfielder Andy Townsend is the latest to recommend him for the job. Speaking to Boylesports, he said: “I think you have to be looking for an elite manager, someone that has dealt with the very biggest players and personalities and has handled pressure from above and the terraces
“I don’t think Antonio Conte would be the right fit. Out of all of them, the one manager I would like to see at United is Diego Simeone.
“I think his football and the way his Atletico Madrid team have played is kind of more suited to the Premier League. I don’t think his style of play would please the United fans. They want something more flamboyant.
“But at the moment, United need to get back on level terms with the likes of City and Liverpool and try to get ahead of Arsenal, I don’t think you want someone who’s talking about the beautiful game.
“You need someone who is prepared to put massive demands on the players on a consistent basis and drag performances and victories out of them. Only Simeone has those qualities.”
Diego Simeone has been touted as an option for Manchester United(Image: Getty Images)
Despite believing that Simeone should be the club’s new permanent head coach, Townsend was keen to praise the work Carrick and his coaching staff have done over the last month.
He said: “I think Michael Carrick has done a really good job since he’s come in. Some of the decisions he’s made have been very straightforward, like playing Kobbie Mainoo. He’s been naming unchanged starting line-ups and that’s never a bad thing.
“If you’ve got a winning team, don’t change it. Too many managers rotate players when their team’s been on a good run. All of a sudden, they’re giving this player a game, that player a game, but when you have a winning team, and they look like they’re enjoying things, just roll with it.
“Keep going. Live in that moment. Suddenly, you’re five games unbeaten as United are. There’s a simplicity and an effectiveness to what Michael has done and he’s doing it in an understated manner.”
Keane has recently made a significant U-turn on possibly giving Carrick the full-time job, but has already made it emphatically clear who he wants to see succeed Amorim.
“I’ve said it for years, I’d like to see Atletico Madrid’s Simeone, I’d like to see him go in there,” he said on Stick to Football back in October.
“I know his mate’s [Andrea Berta, sporting director] gone to Arsenal, but I think he would just create havoc, but good havoc.
Roy Keane has wanted Diego Simeone at Manchester United for years(Image: PA)
“I think he’d rock up to that place and say, ‘This is how you do things.’ No guarantee, but I’d just like to see his personality, and his track record…”
Keane added: “People might think styles of football, they beat Real Madrid, they scored five last weekend. This idea that he’s defensive… Yeah, he doesn’t like his team giving up too many goals or chances, but they can play a bit.
“Liverpool a few weeks ago [3-2 defeat], the team aren’t as great as they were a few years ago but there’s still that fighting spirit. He’s on the sideline causing… He got sent off that night [against Liverpool], didn’t he? I’d like a big personality.”
It has been a mixed last few weeks for Simeone’s Atletico with a recent and controversial 4-0 Copa del Rey semi-final triumph over Barcelona coming either side of defeats to Real Betis and Rayo Vallecano.
The latter La Liga clash was a 3-0 defeat for Atletico with points dropped against Levante late last month leaving them 15 points adrift of leaders Real.