Bryan Robson hopes Manchester United stick with Erik ten Hag beyond the end of the season and believes the club’s interest in Gareth Southgate has been exaggerated by the media.
United have had another difficult season and are languishing down in sixth place in the Premier League table, 17 points adrift of top-of-the-table Arsenal with ten games remaining in the top flight.
The Red Devils also endured their worst ever Champions League campaign, finishing rock-bottom of their group with just one win to their name, and were dumped out of the Carabao Cup after a humbling fourth-round defeat to Newcastle.
Serious question marks remain over Ten Hag’s position and, crucially, the Dutchman is yet to receive a public vote of confidence from Sir Jim Ratcliffe following the British billionaire’s £1.3bn partial takeover at Old Trafford.
A number of high-profile managers have been mooted as potential candidates to replace Ten Hag and recent reports suggested the club had made England head coach Southgate their number one choice for the hot seat should results spiral.
Ten Hag’s future is likely to hinge on United’s progress in the FA Cup and the club’s success – or otherwise – in securing Champions League football for next season.
But legendary ex-United captain Robson feels his former club should opt for stability and keep faith in Ten Hag regardless of results in the back-end of the season.
‘For me, I’ve got to say that because we’ve changed our manager so many times since Sir Alex [Ferguson], it’s not my decision, but I wouldn’t mind seeing Ten Hag there next season,’ Robson told the No Tippy Tappy Football podcast.
Asked whether Ten Hag may need to qualify for the Champions League or win the FA Cup to keep his job, Robson bluntly replied: ‘Yes.’
Robson added: ‘If you get on with the people who run the club, not particularly the owners, but the people who actually run the club as a manager, it’s really important that you get on with them and work together really well if you’re going to be successful.’
Robson believes the rumours linking Southgate with United are being pushed by the media in order to provide a distraction ahead of England’s Euro 2024 campaign in the summer.
‘This is exactly what the media do. They want him out of the England job now when it’s coming into the competition instead of supporting him,’ Robson said.
‘And then he’s sort of losing his focus on England by mentioning Manchester United.’
Robson has been hugely impressed by Kobbie Mainoo’s breakthrough at United and is confident the young midfielder could have a ‘great career’ at both club and international level if he ‘keeps his feet on the ground’.
‘It’s always great when you’re connected with a club and a young lad comes through from the academy and they impress, but mentally and physically they impress,’ the former United and England midfielder continued.
‘For me, I saw him in pre-season when United were over in the United States.
‘He played against Arsenal and he was playing against Declan Rice and he did really well in the game but unfortunately got injured and that kept him out for quite a time.
‘But it’s his control and his mental control… the lad looks as if he’s grounded, he keeps his feet on the ground and he’s really pleasant around the training ground.
‘So if he keeps his feet on the ground, he’s got a great chance to have a great career with England and a great career with Manchester United.’
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