Fabrizio Romano has shared his understanding of the latest speculation regarding a managerial change at Manchester United.
The Red Devils were dealt a final hammer blow on Tuesday night after their humiliating Champions League campaign came to an end at the group stage; Bayern Munich put them out of their misery with a 1-0 victory at Old Trafford, cementing United’s place at rock-bottom of Group A and ruling them out of Europa League football in the process.
Given United’s tumultuous start to the Premier League term, they certainly aren’t shaping up as one of the favourites in the top-four race. Already, they’ve sustained seven losses – more than any team in the top nine of the table – and currently hold a negative goal difference of minus three.
They’re now six points away from rivals Manchester City in fourth and face a season-defining run of fixtures over the festive period, starting with Sunday’s trip to Anfield to face league-leaders Liverpool – and we all know how they fared on Merseyside last term.
Romano weighs in
Such a start in the aforementioned competitions, along with an early Carabao Cup exit, has led to Erik ten Hag’s position in the dugout being placed under increasing pressure. Reports have tipped former Real Madrid and Wolverhampton Wanderers boss Julen Lopetegui as a potential replacement, but Romano isn’t all that convinced by the rumours.
Speaking in his exclusive Daily Briefing with CaughtOffside, he explained: “I wanted to start today by addressing some of the rumours about Erik ten Hag and a possible replacement being lined up by Manchester United, with some credible sources suggesting Julen Lopetegui is gaining strength as a candidate to take over at Old Trafford.
“I don’t want to deny or talk down any colleagues and the information they’re getting, but all I can say is that I’m not aware of any contact between Man United and Lopetegui at this stage. There’s not a lot more I can say other than what I’ve previously reported, which is that United continue to back Ten Hag, even if there is an awareness that things have to improve.”
The rot has to stop! Bring back Ed Woodward!