Antonio Conte Tells Manchester United He Is Willing to Replace Michael Carrick
Antonio Conte has informed Manchester United that he would be willing to replace Michael Carrick as head coach, according to reports.
Carrick enjoyed a brilliant spell as caretaker manager last term, helping United finish third in the Premier League and qualify for the Champions League. That form earned him the job on a permanent basis, but many supporters and observers feel the club failed to back him properly in the summer transfer market.
United have won just one of their first six Premier League matches this season, earning only six points from those fixtures. Carrick was already under pressure after a 1-1 draw with ten-man Tottenham at the weekend, and a 2-0 defeat at Atletico Madrid in the Champions League has raised further concerns. Defender Lisandro Martinez was punished in the aftermath of the loss in Spain after he blamed the club’s poor start to the season on weak recruitment.
Rumours have circulated for weeks that Conte, the former Chelsea and Tottenham boss, could take over if United decided to change direction. Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that the Italian is ready to take charge of a historic club as soon as possible.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano said: “Conte, Eddie Howe and also the name of Julian Nagelsmann are all managers who are obviously linked with the Manchester United job in case they decide to change. What I can tell you is that there is still nothing advanced, concrete, serious between Conte and Manchester United.”
Romano added that, unlike in the past, when Conte preferred to wait for a new season, pre-season and his own squad, Conte would now be open to taking a job mid-season. He stressed that Conte does not want to move to the Middle East simply for the money, and that he wants to continue coaching in Europe at a club with a big history. Romano also noted that there were no concrete contacts yet between Conte and United.
Conte Ready to Step In at Old Trafford
Earlier reports said Conte is ready to take charge of United immediately, and that intermediaries working with him have renewed contact with the club’s hierarchy to reiterate his interest.
Further reports now claim that Conte has already reached out to the club to express his interest. Representatives of Conte have reportedly told United that he would be interested in taking over should Carrick be dismissed.