After losing three-consecutive games for the first time under Arne Slot, Jamie Carragher has told the Dutchman that he may have to copy Real Madrid to solve his current problem at Liverpool.

Slot points out "small margins" in Chelsea defeat

Last-gasp defeat against Crystal Palace saw the cracks begin to appear, but that could have been put down to a bad day at the office rather than a pending problem. Defeat in midweek against Galatasaray then sparked some uncomfortable questions, before Chelsea’s late winner handed Slot his biggest problem yet as Liverpool manager.

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After spending £400m in the summer, the Reds have looked a shadow of the Premier League champions that they became last season. Milos Kerkez, Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong have all endured particularly slow starts, whilst long-term stars such as Ibrahima Konate, Mohamed Salah and Alexis Mac Allister have failed to reach the levels they’re known for at Anfield. It has been an exposing seven days for Liverpool.

It’s now a big couple of weeks for Slot, who must solve his side’s current problems in the international break before welcoming Manchester United to Anfield. To do exactly that, Carragher has told the former Feyenoord boss that he may need to copy Real Madrid.

Carragher tells Slot to copy Real Madrid as problem emerges

Having his say on Liverpool’s current form, Carragher told Slot that he may have to copy Real Madrid to solve the “problem” of getting all his star men in the same, thriving team. The former centre-back even suggested that the Dutchman could need to become the “ultimate Real Madrid manager” after the Reds’ Galactico-esque summer.

Carragher said on The Overlap: “Because it’s being a Real Madrid summer in terms of buying big players, does Slot almost need to be like the ultimate Real Madrid manager? And I always think of Ancelotti, and I feel like Ancelotti every summer, you’d almost be thinking, ‘what’s he going to do with that?’

“Even last season there was, ‘how can he get Mbappe and Vinicius in the same team?’ But even go back to his AC Milan teams, or his Real Madrid teams, that was his greatest strength as a manager, he’d find a way whatever system, and he’d just get the best players on the pitch where they wanted to play and almost do it for the players.”

MatériaMais Notícias

Fernando Diniz dirigiu a Seleção Brasileira pela primeira vez na sexta-feira, contra a Bolívia. O Brasil venceu o jogo por 5 a 1 e registrou a maior posse de bola da sua história, 80%. Apesar de histórico para a Seleção, o feito já foi alcançado pelo Fluminense nesta temporada, sob comando de Diniz

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A vitória contra Bolívia ficou marcada pela estreia do novo treinador e também pela goleada já como DNA de Fernando Diniz. Além da posse de bola de 80%, marcando um novo recorde na história da Seleção, o time criou um volume muito grande de oportunidades.

+ Já pensou em ser um gestor de futebol? Participe da nossa Masterclass com Felipe Ximenes e descubra oportunidades

Apesar de ser a um marco para o Brasil, a realização não é surpresa para o Fluminense. Nesta temporada, pela rodada 4 do Brasileirão, o Tricolor teve os mesmos 80% de posse de bola no clássico contra o Vasco. Apesar de ter o controle da bola no jogo e pressionar o Cruzmaltino durante os 90 minutos, o jogo terminou em 1 a 1.

+Ver tabela do Brasileirão

Na saída do jogo do Brasil, Diniz se mostrou orgulhoso do desempenho do time e elogiou a marca.

– Representa para mim. Todo mundo sabe que eu tenho um apreço muito grande de ficar com a bola. Mais do que isso, ser agressivo, criativo e criar muita chance de gol. Foi o cenário ideal de ter uma posse de bola eficiente. É o que a gente pretende fazer. É o início apenas.

+Diogo Barbosa fala sobre disputa de posição com Marcelo no Fluminense: ‘Muito difícil substituir ele’

O próximo compromisso de Diniz pelo Brasil é contra o Peru na terça-feira(12). O Fluminense enfrenta o Vasco, no sábado (16), no Nilton Santos, às 16h, pelo Brasileirão.

With the World Cup less than a year away, GOAL ranks the strikers competing to make Mauricio Pochettino's squad

There is no position as discussed or dissected more than striker. It's always been that way. That fact applies to the U.S. men's national team – and perhaps doubly so after the struggles during the 2022 World Cup. From the moment the USMNT's run in Qatar ended, there was one pressing question: could the U.S. find a No. 9 who could make the difference?

That wasn't the only cause of their undoing at the 2022 World Cup. But throughout that run, the USMNT's lack of presence up top was noticeable. The hope has always been that, by the 2026 World Cup, there would be a solution. And so now Mauricio Pochettino must choose among several candidates. It's a good problem to have, but it doesn't make the selection any less crucial.

Choose right and the USMNT could make a run next summer. Choose wrong? Well, that could be the difference between winning and losing.

Striker is, of course, a position based on form. As much as anything, it's about riding the hot hand and using confidence to your advantage. There are other factors at play, as well – athleticism, timing, decisiveness, chemistry. All will play a part in determining who starts for the USMNT next summer, who comes off the bench and who might just be left out.

GOAL looks at the current state of USMNT strikers ahead of the November camp.

IMAGN5Josh Sargent

It's crazy to think just how different things could be for Sargent with little luck. If he had scored during his chance at the Nations League, who knows where we'd be? If he had gotten the Gold Cup call-up, maybe his goalscoring drought would be behind him. If he had featured against Japan, not South Korea, maybe the conversation would be different.

None of those happened, however. As a result, Sargent still sits on a multi-year USMNT scoreless streak, dating back to 2019, and with so few national team games left before the World Cup, it's going to be tough for him to make his mark.

That's the thing with Sargent: this has nothing to do with club performances, solely his results with the national team. On the club level, he's struggled a bit recently, by his standards. But by any metric, he's still one of the Championship's most lethal finishers. He's a player that can score goals in a variety of ways, and one that could ultimately determined whether Norwich City get promoted or not.

What he hasn't been able to do, though, is score for the USMNT. And with others doing just that in their more recent appearances, the odds are getting longer for Sargent to make the World Cup squad.

AdvertisementGetty Images4Patrick Agyemang

Agyemang is intriguing. Though he still has the most to prove, just a year into his international career, his rise has been rapid. Where will it lead?

Off the heels of his USMNT breakthrough, which began with a performance in January camp that clearly endeared him to Pochettino, Agyemang moved to Derby County over the summer. His impact was delayed due to injury, but despite that, the former Charlotte FC forward did have a goal and two assists for Derby in September.

Agyemang's unique combination of physical gifts make him difficult to deal with, which, in turn, could put position him as a potential supersub in a World Cup setting. He is, however, still very new to all of this, and those ahead of him are significantly more proven at higher levels of the game.

The fact that he was in October camp means he's very much in the mix. It will all depend how he fares with Derby this season.

Getty Images3Haji Wright

There is notable a gap, right nowm between Wright and Agyemang. The reason? The two goals he scored against Australia during the October international break.

Wright is a man in form and currently leads the Championship in goals. The fact that he netted twice against Australia wasn't surprising – those two scores extended a streak in which he had 11 goals in his last 11 games for club and country. It was essentially expected given the way he's been banging them in so frequently for Coventry City.

The quality of the goals, though, cannot be overlooked. On the first, he ran onto a through ball and absolutely rifled a shot into the back of the net, a finish only a confident striker can muster. The second? A patient, curling effort on which the 27-year-old striker breezed past a defender before picking out a corner with both composure and finesse.

Those types of finishes keep Wright in the mix as he looks to make it to a second consecutive World Cup.

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Imago2Ricardo Pepi

It's been challenging to judge Pepi's form, largely because it's been so long since he's worn a USMNT shirt. You have to remember, then, just how good Pepi was in those final months of 2024. In that sort of form, he might just be the starter.

He scored 11 Eredivisie goals in just 693 minutes, a ridiculous goalscoring return. In addition, he netted four goals in the cup and two in the Champions League, emerging as the guy for PSV. Injuries then derailed that, and Pepi is only just now coming back after his season ended in January.

Prior to all of that, Pepi was in great form with the USMNT, too. He scored last October against Panama and then netted in back to back games against Jamaica one month later to emerge as the early star of the Pochettino era. We haven't seen him since due to that knee injury but, when he was working under Pochettino in those first few weeks, Pepi seemed to be a player that could start at a World Cup.

The PSV striker has a point to prove going forward. Is he the same player he was pre-injury and, if he is, is that enough for him be the starter?

After Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) were knocked out of IPL 2025 playoff contention by Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on Monday, Tom Moody on ESPNcricinfo’s Time Out pointed out that LSG could not build a bowling unit after spending heavily on Rishabh Pant (INR 27 crore) at the auction and retaining Nicholas Pooran for a hefty sum (INR 21 crore).”The expense on Rishabh Pant and Nicholas Pooran, those two players, makes it very hard to build a very strong bowling unit,” Moody said. “Because you just don’t have the funds to compete at the auction table.”In an ideal world, it’s great to have Pooran, [David] Miller, [Mitchell] Marsh, Pant… all these are impactful batters but at the end of the day you need to bowl. You’ve got to be able to have an impactful bowling unit in powerplays. Be adaptable in the middle overs and take wicket and squeeze the opposition. And in the back-end of the innings, you need people to close the game under pressure – take wickets, bowl those really challenging overs when the opposition is going hell-for-leather against you. And I just don’t think they’ve got any of that.”Related

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In their bowling unit, left-arm pacer Mohsin Khan missed the entire season, while Mayank Yadav, who was retained by LSG, was mostly on the sidelines. Avesh Khan and Akash Deep also struggled with fitness issues, which resulted in their below-par performances while Mohsin’s replacement Shardul Thakur also tapered off after a promising start.Abhinav Mukund echoed Moody’s thoughts but also thought LSG may have erred by getting “really emotional” with their picks, especially when selecting Mayank and Ravi Bishnoi.”Avesh is a tick, but Akash has played a handful of games in the IPL,” Abhinav said. “He’s primary a red-ball bowler known in this country for his red-ball skills. And over and above that, you’ve invested in Mayank Yadav. A lot of teams get emotional about their picks, they get really emotional like ‘we’ve found him, we need to have him, we need to ensure that he’s here.’ That’s the same with Bishnoi.However despite the underwhelming bowling returns, the performance of Digvesh Rathi – the only LSG bowler to have featured in all 12 games and was also their best bowler with 14 wickets at an economy rate of 8.18 – was a positive.”But why I say they’ve gotten lucky [is] because they’ve got two players who’ve gone under the radar for them,” Abhinav added. “Which was one retention in Ayush Badoni, who’s had a very decent season, and the other is one guy who has played just two games for his state side, which is Digvesh Rathi, who has turned out to be exceptional at [INR] 30 lakhs. And then you’ve invested in another 30 lakhs bowler in Prince Yadav, who hasn’t done too badly for that kind of price.While Bishnoi was a sure starter in the XI before LSG kickstarted their campaign this time, he did not have the kind of impact that LSG expected out of him. Bishnoi played 11 matches and picked up nine wickets at an economy of 10.83.”He’s become too predictable,” Abhinav explained. “He doesn’t have a variation other than the googly, he definitely needs to work on his speeds and he needs to understand how to get out of an over once he starts getting hit.”

West Ham United have agreed a deal with Nuno Espírito Santo to replace Graham Potter, who was sacked on Saturday morning after just nine months and 25 games in charge.

Nuno Espírito Santo takes over from Graham Potter at West Ham

The 51-year-old, after leaving Nottingham Forest due to a public fallout with Evangelos Marinakis, has wasted absolutely no time getting back to work, replacing Potter at West Ham.

The latter recorded the second-worst win percentage of any West Ham manager in Premier League history, behind only Avram Grant, with the Irons conceding a calamitous seven of their 13 goals from corners so far this season.

9. Sam Allardyce

30.7%

10. Julen Lopetegui

30%

11. Gianfranco Zola

27.8%

12 Graham Potter

26.1%

13. Avram Grant

18.9%

via StatMuse

It quite simply couldn’t go on, and West Ham shareholders held a very real worry that relegation was staring them in the face (Claret & Hugh), despite senior members of the squad telling close friends that Potter was the right man for the job (The Telegraph).

ExWHUemployee was first to report earlier this week that Nuno was close to agreeing a West Ham deal, and widespread reports suggested that the former Wolves and Tottenham boss was a standout favourite.

Now, those reports have come to fruition, with the tactician poised to take charge of his first game away to Everton at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Monday.

It is interesting to note that chairman David Sullivan was reportedly in favour of Slaven Bilic’s return on a short-term contract until the end of the season, with some media sources claiming that Nuno was demanding big wages to join West Ham and a longer-term deal.

The driving force behind Nuno Espírito Santo's move to West Ham

Therefore, it is little surprise that he wasn’t the driving force behind Nuno’s move to East London.

Indeed, according to talkSPORT’s Alex Crook, vice-chairman Karren Brady was leading West Ham’s charge to appoint Nuno, with the journalist also revealing a disagreement between the official and Sullivan over Potter’s previous contract.

It appears Brady has overruled Sullivan for the second time in a year through Nuno’s arrival, but considering the coach’s obvious credentials, her decision could prove to be the right one.

Why Brady was right to push for Nuno's appointment at West Ham

A succession of other candidates were linked with the post, including Bilic, Gary O’Neil, Scott Parker, Marco Silva, Sean Dyche, Frank Lampard and Michael Carrick.

However, Nuno stands above all the aforementioned names.

Following his appointment at the City Ground, the ex-Al-Ittihad boss – who won a Saudi Pro League title there before leaving just months later – steadied the ship, solidified Forest’s leaky backline, improved their set-piece fragility and gave his former team a clear counter-attacking identity.

What followed was a sensational 2024/2025, where Forest stood out as last season’s major surprise package, and they were justly rewarded via securing a place back in European football for the first time in 30 years.

Nuno eventually got the very best out of his players, despite inheriting what was once a dire situation. West Ham supporters will be hoping he can now replicate that feat down south, with Nuno aiming to end 2025 on a high in very testing circumstances.

On the latest edition of The Wayne Rooney Show, Wayne Rooney said, “I am not seeing anything which is giving me any confidence, there needs to be big changes in my opinion.”

Manchester United felt they had secured a coup when taking Ruben Amorim away from Sporting Lisbon midway through the 2024/25 campaign. The Portuguese tactician was flying high in his homeland and had been strongly linked with Liverpool before they appointed Arne Slot as Jurgen Klopp’s successor.

But Amorim has floundered across his months in the Old Trafford hot seat, with United finding themselves languishing in 14th place in the Premier League after six matches, having finished 15th last term after losing to Europa League final to Tottenham Hotspur.

Amorim has come under heavy flak for his rigid belief in his 3-4-3 formation, willing to die on that hill in spite of a general weariness over its ineffectiveness in the English game.

INEOS are hesitant to dismiss the 40-year-old from his duties and will hold out hope that United put in a big performance at home against Sunderland on Saturday, but if they fail to kick on, a tough decision will need to be made, with Sir Gareth Southgate emerging as a contender for the managerial spot at the Theatre of Dreams.

Man United consider appointing Southgate

One thing’s for certain, Man United’s potential appointment of Southgate would be met with more than a measure of doubt.

The former Three Lions boss might have achieved more success than any other England Men’s boss since the World Cup was lifted in 1966, but he’s also been out of club management since being relegated from the Premier League with Middlesbrough in 2009.

But he’d come in cheap, and with a reputation for being a strong communicator and an “unbelievable” character, as was said by Jude Bellingham upon the manager’s resignation from his England post after the 2024 European Championship.

But concerns over his tactical grasp persisted throughout his tenure, and the current question mark over Amorim’s own system points toward a necessity for a clear, fluent brand of football going forward.

INEOS need to appoint a proven trophy-winning manager with a deep understanding of the game and a vision which suggests this viewpoint could be effectively applied in the Premier League.

As it happens, former Barcelona boss Xavi Hernandez is on the market, and he’s even showing an interest in making the move to the Premier League and joining the Red Devils, should Amorim be dismissed.

Man United could strike gold with Xavi

Xavi has been out of work since the start of 2024, when he left Barcelona. The legendary footballing figure is, however, open to new work, and Fabrizio Romano believes he is interested in taking the Manchester United job, should a vacancy materialise.

Romano revealed on his YouTube channel that Xavi is open to taking on the job at Old Trafford even without the allure of European football. It is worth noting the mentality on show here, with Amorim having wanted to remain with Sporting Lisbon for the duration of the 2024/25 campaign, instead of switching allegiances mid-season.

As a player, the iconic Spaniard was very much the definitive midfield maestro, and he has willed his managerial career into shape through the application of his own playing-day virtues.

His time as Barcelona manager was somewhat turbulent, but he did win the La Liga title in 2022/23, his first full season as boss, and played an important part in guiding the Spanish giants away from the pit they were sinking into. In February 2024, he left isolated and frustrated, but with his head held high.

If Man United can provide him with the assurances that he can have things his way, there is no reason why his erudite footballing brain. Already, the 45-year-old is enamoured by the idea, having said in the past that he “would love to work in the Premier League”.

Perhaps, then, the words from the horse’s mouth lend credence to Romano’s claim. With Amorim skating on thin ice, it feels like United could score themselves a significant upgrade, especially with Xavi employing a more conventional 4-3-3 formation.

That said, Xavi’s managerial outlook might be conventional at the surface level, but there is a depth and mastery of the technical side of the game that could be exactly what United need as they look to return to the top.

Barcelona are a team defined by their passing, and Xavi, as a player and as a manager, has been an embodiment of that style.

La Liga – Possession Leaders (22/23)

Club

Final Pos.

Possession Av.

Barcelona

1st

64.3%

Real Madrid

2nd

60.9%

Villarreal

5th

56.9%

Real Sociedad

4th

54.6%

Sevilla

12th

52.6%

Data via FBref

When La Blaugrana lifted the league title under their legendary figure’s wing in 2022/23, they played with a gusto and command that was so very ‘Barcelona’.

So impressive was he that, before the trophy had even been lifted and with everything in the balance, club president Joan Laporta had said, “We have the best manager in the world”.

Here is a tactician who knows his stuff, with credentials of the highest order and a hunger to join Man United and make things right.

Amorim had a good thing going before taking the United job, to be sure, but it’s clear that he is a young coach whose experience was restricted to the Portuguese scene, and his stubbornness in keeping his same tactical outlook despite the glaring deficiencies had made for sustained grim viewing.

If the opportunity to appoint Xavi presents itself, United’s officials must pounce.

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Posts ByEthan Lamb Sep 29, 2025

قال تقارير إعلامية اليوم الخميس، إن نادي ريال مدريد قرر اتخاذ إجراء جديد ضد الاتحاد الأوروبي لكرة القدم ”يويفا”.

ريال مدريد وبقيادة رئيسه فلورنتينو بيريز، كان حريصًا بشكل كبير على إقامة بطولة السوبر ليج ، وقد دخل مع الفريق الملكي العديد من الأندية الكبرى الأخرى أمثال برشلونة ويوفنتوس وبايرن ميونخ، وغيرها قبل أن ينسحب العديد من الأندية.

وذكرت صحيفة “آس”، أن إدارة ريال مدريد تخطط لرفع دعوى قضائية ضد اليويفا، وذلك للمطالبة بتعويض قيمته 4.5 مليار يورو، وهو مبلغ يراه الملكي تعويضًا مناسبًا عن الأضرار التي مست سمعة النادي.

طالع.. رئيس الاتحاد الإسباني يعلق على شجار كارفاخال ولامين يامال في الكلاسيكو

وأوضحت أن ريال مدريد وبرشلونة بقيادة بيريز وخوان لابورتا، قد دخلا في مباحثات مع اليويفا، بشأن إقامة السوبر ليج وتفاصيل حقوق البث وإذاعة المباريات ونظام البطولة، لكن المفاوضات انهارت في النهاية.

وأردفت أن ريال مدريد أدرك أن يويفا لم يكن ينوي التوصل لاتفاق للموافقة على إقامة السوبر ليج، وإنما كان يهدف للمماطلة من أجل عدم إقامة البطولة، بالتالي أنسب حل لتعويض الخسائر المادية والمعنوية هو مطالبة الفريق الملكي بتعويض كبير.

ريال مدريد يمر بموسم ممتاز على كافة الأصعدة وحقق الفوز في جميع المباريات التي لعبها بكافة المسابقات عدا الخسارة 5-2 من أتلتيكو مدريد خلال شهر سبتمبر الماضي في الدوري الإسباني.

وعزز ريال مدريد صدارته لبطولة الدوري الإسباني بعد فوزه بالكلاسيكو على برشلونة يوم الأحد الماضي 2-1.

Balbirnie scored his ninth ODI hundred and McCarthy took a four-for as Ireland beat West Indies by 124 runs

Hemant Brar21-May-2025Andy Balbirnie’s ninth ODI hundred and Barry McCarthy’s four-wicket haul handed West Indies a 124-run thrashing in the first ODI in Dublin. It was Ireland’s biggest win by runs against a Full Member and their fourth-biggest victory overall.Balbirnie, who came into this game with scores of 91, 101 and 63 in the Inter-Provincial Cup, continued his good form and accumulated 112 off 138 balls to set the platform for Ireland’s eventual 303 for 6.McCarthy then dismantled West Indies’ top order by taking three wickets with the new ball. Roston Chase and Matthew Forde resisted but only briefly. Fittingly, it was McCarthy who took the final wicket as West Indies were bowled out for 179 in 34.1 overs.Earlier, after West Indies opted to bowl, Balbirnie found good support from captain Paul Stirling and Harry Tector. Both scored quick half-centuries to allow Balbirnie to play the anchor’s role he has been assigned. Stirling was the aggressor in the 109-run opening stand. During his 54 off 64 balls, he also became the first Ireland batter to reach 10,000 international runs.While Cade Carmichael did not last long, Balbirnie and Tector kept Ireland going with a third-wicket stand of 98 in just 81 balls. Balbirnie took 88 balls to reach his fifty but stepped up after that. His second fifty came in 43 balls.Alzarri Joseph ended that stand in the 44th over with Balbirnie’s wicket, but Tector’s 56 off 51 and Lorcan Tucker’s 30 off 18 ensured Ireland crossed 300.Barry McCarthy celebrates with his team-mates after dismissing Amir Jangoo•Getty ImagesWest Indies did not have a great start to their chase and lost Evin Lewis in the third over of the innings. The batter’s attempt for a risky single proved to be fatal when he collided with the bowler, McCarthy, and failed to beat Tector’s direct hit from mid-off.That was not the last time West Indies found McCarthy in their way. On the final ball of the seventh over, he had Keacy Carty caught at mid-on. In his next over, he dealt a double blow. He first had Brandon King caught behind and then trapped Amir Jangoo lbw.Before West Indies could steady themselves, debutant Thomas Mayes landed another blow. He cleaned up Shai Hope with a big inswinger, leaving the visitors on 31 for 5 in the tenth over.Justin Greaves decided to fight fire with fire. He struck four fours off McCarthy in the 11th over and welcomed Josh Little into the attack with back-to-back fours. But Little had the last laugh when he had Greaves caught at slip for 35 off 17 balls.Chase, the newly appointed Test captain, and Forde chose the conventional method to revive the innings. They bided their time and put away loose balls. Chase brought up his fifth half-century in ODIs as the pair added 98 in 107 balls for the seventh wicket.George Dockrell, though, ended West Indies’ resistance by castling Chase when the target was still 135 runs away. The end was swift. Dockrell dismissed Alzarri Joseph and Gudakesh Motie in his next over, and two balls later, McCarthy removed Forde to seal the win.Still, it was not a flawless performance by Ireland. They left out a few runs in the middle and dropped three catches, something they will be keen to fix when the two sides meet again on Friday.

It felt as if there was an unspoken agreement among Manchester United supporters last season. No matter the on-field turmoil, no matter the new lows reached, the Old Trafford faithful would remain behind manager Ruben Amorim regardless.

Parachuted in mid-way through the campaign, despite his desire to join this summer, the Portuguese coach was almost afforded a free hit last time out, with a notable Europa League run also helping to cloud the club’s Premier League undoings.

That night in Bilbao was drab and disappointing, yet the 40-year-old teased brighter days ahead following the final league clash against Aston Villa. “The good days are coming”, he exclaimed.

Five games into the new season, however, and those ‘good days’ have yet to return. Perhaps the cries for patience need to be heeded, but this all feels very much like more of the same.

There was a willingness to ‘suffer’ in 2024/25, with the proviso that Amorim would get it right after a full summer window, a full pre-season and a full week between games. Four points from four and a Carabao Cup exit would suggest otherwise.

Unsurprisingly, the debate over the ex-Sporting CP man’s future is ramping up – could it be time for a change before too much damage is done?

How Amorim's start to the season compares

The honesty and candour of Amorim’s pre and post-match musings has been to his credit, yet while the one-time Braga boss is able to talk the talk, he has thus far failed to walk the walk.

Steadfast in his refusal to tweak a flawed 3-4-2-1 system, the latest post-Sir Alex Ferguson appointment may well fall on his sword sooner rather than later, having overseen the club’s worst start to a Premier League campaign since 1992.

Of course, that inaugural season in the new-look top-flight saw United clinch the title under Fergie’s watch, but in an era where almost perfection is needed to finish at the summit, the current crop appear so far off the pace.

With the next international break now just three games away, Amorim could be heading for a crucial juncture in his relatively brief Red Devils tenure, with it having been October last year which saw the end of Erik ten Hag.

The Dutchman had actually collected more points this time last year with six from the opening four league games, although with United slumping to 14th in the table, a defeat to West Ham United was the final straw.

Having overseen another extensive summer of investment in the region of £250m, Amorim may also find himself on the chopping block before too long – but just who could replace him?

How Man Utd can replace Ruben Amorim

There is a sense that the INEOS hierarchy have almost jumped the gun with Amorim’s appointment. Rather than taking the approach of employing a safe pair hands in the dugout, while considerable change continues at boardroom level, Sir Jim Ratcliffe and co have gambled on the two-time Portuguese title winner and his much-debated back three system.

That risk, so far, has yet to pay off, and while it is still early days in the 2025/26 season, there could well be a desire to nip things in the bud sooner rather than later, instead of simply watching another campaign drift into nothingness.

If a change is to be made in the managerial department, there have been whispers that long-time target Mauricio Pochettino could be in the equation, with the Argentine coach currently at the helm of the United States national team.

A record of seven defeats in 18 games in charge of the upcoming World Cup hosts is certainly nothing to shout about, with the post-Tottenham Hotspur period having been distinctly unkind for the 53-year-old, amid his brutal sackings at both Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea.

That being said, while his time at international level may suggest otherwise, the 4-2-3-1 manager is no busted flush. At Stamford Bridge, for instance, he overcame the chaos to steer the Blues to a respectable sixth-place finish. At the Parc des Princes, meanwhile, three domestic honours were claimed for the Ligue 1 giants.

There was a time, too, when he was even deemed by Ferguson to be the “best manager in the league” – as relayed by MP David Lammy – with Pochettino having been a revelation following his appointment at Spurs in 2014.

Formerly of Southampton, the “genius” coach – as hailed by journalist Alex Keble – steered a youthful side in north London to incremental progress, unleashing an exciting brand of football led by the likes of Harry Kane, Heung-min Son and Dele Alli.

In his five full seasons in charge of the Lilywhites, ‘Poch’ finished no lower than fifth, even while largely operating on a shoestring budget, having secured a top-four finish in four successive campaigns.

While a trophy was elusive, the one-time Espanyol boss did defy the odds to take the club to the Champions League final in 2019, having been harshly sacked by Daniel Levy just a matter of months later. As Keble stated, he was arguably “too good” for Spurs, while he was “so above Levy, the chairman didn’t know what to do.”

With Amorim currently ‘boasting’ a Premier League record of just 31 points from 31 games, Pochettino would undoubtedly be an upgrade in that department.

Indeed, the latter man has won 150 games in the competition from 294 outings, with a points per match ratio of 1.77.

USA

18

1.83

Chelsea

51

1.78

PSG

84

2.15

Spurs

293

1.84

Saints

60

1.45

Espanyol

161

1.22

Still a relatively youthful figure in the coaching world at 53, the experienced coach appears to have missed the boat on numerous occasions when it comes to moving to Manchester, having notably been in the running when both Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer were fired.

This move has been a long time coming, with Pochettino able to provide that long-term approach alongside the ability to get results at Premier League level in the short-term.

Amorim, it must be said, is a figure to get behind, but this is a results business, and well, the results simply haven’t been up to scratch.

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ByRobbie Walls Sep 17, 2025

Former Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini reportedly believes he could be in contention to replace Ruben Amorim at Manchester United if the Portuguese coach is sacked. The 60-year-old Italian, who led City to their first Premier League title in 2012, is said to have told friends he would be open to a return to English football amid growing pressure on Amorim.

• Mancini tells friends he could replace Amorim

  Mancini has reportedly told close friends that he could be a surprise candidate to take over at Manchester United should the club decide to part ways with current boss Amorim. According to The Sun, the Italian tactician, out of work since leaving his role with the Saudi Arabia national team a year ago, believes he has a chance of being considered if United make a managerial change.

  Mancini, who remains well connected in the football world, has a base in the South of France and is said to have crossed paths with Ineos chief Sir Jim Ratcliffe at several social events. The 60-year-old’s name has re-emerged in speculation surrounding Amorim’s uncertain future, although it would mark a dramatic shift given Mancini’s long-standing association with Manchester City. Despite that, his experience and track record at the top level of European football could make him an intriguing option should the Red Devils decide to act.

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  Mancini's Man City and Italy successes

  While Mancini’s links to the Old Trafford job may surprise some, his managerial pedigree remains impressive. He spent three and a half years at City between 2009 and 2013, guiding the club to their first Premier League crown in 44 years and ending their 34-year trophy drought with an FA Cup triumph in 2011. During that time, he amassed 113 wins from 191 games, recording a near-60% win rate and laying the groundwork for City’s modern dominance.

  Mancini later achieved international glory with Italy, steering the Azzurri to victory at Euro 2020 after an unforgettable penalty shootout win over England at Wembley. His recent departure from the Saudi Arabia job means he is available for immediate employment, and his blend of club and international success makes him one of the most decorated managers currently unattached. Even so, the idea of him switching allegiances to City’s fierce rivals may not sit comfortably with supporters who still remember his defining moments in sky blue.

• Mancini's post-Man City career

  Mancini’s post-City career has taken him across Europe and beyond, adding layers to an already accomplished resume. Following his Etihad exit in 2013, he managed Galatasaray, where he lifted the Turkish Cup, before returning to Inter Milan for a second stint and later overseeing Zenit Saint Petersburg in Russia.

  His most celebrated chapter, however, came as Italy boss, guiding the national team to a world-record 37-game unbeaten streak and a European Championship title. That golden run cemented his reputation as one of the game’s great motivators, even though his subsequent failure to qualify for the 2022 World Cup cast a shadow on his tenure.

  After stepping down in 2023, Mancini took charge of Saudi Arabia but left a year later, citing a desire for new challenges. His familiarity with English football, proven trophy-winning record, and established relationships within European football’s elite could make him an appealing candidate for United, who are reportedly also monitoring Gareth Southgate and Oliver Glasner.

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• Amorim safe at Man Utd but for how long?

  For now, Amorim remains in charge at Old Trafford, though uncertainty around his future continues to grow following a stuttering start to the campaign.  The Red Devils’ upcoming fixtures are expected to prove decisive in determining Amorim’s short-term fate, as poor results could accelerate the search for alternatives. Amorim's side will take on Liverpool at Anfield up next before they face off against Brighton and Nottingham Forest.

  Mancini, meanwhile, continues to enjoy time away from management, but his expressed interest in returning to the Premier League hints that he remains hungry for another major challenge. United’s hierarchy, led by Ratcliffe’s Ineos group, are believed to be assessing all options, with Mancini’s name one of several under consideration.

  Whether the Italian would genuinely be willing to take on such a high-pressure role at a club still rebuilding its identity remains to be seen. If United do decide to make a change, the idea of a former City hero taking over at Old Trafford would certainly add an intriguing twist to one of football’s fiercest rivalries.