02 November 2023 , 19:19
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Zinedine Zidane has already ruled himself out of taking the Manchester United job, though well before the pressure began ramping up on Erik ten Hag.
United have endured an awful campaign under Ten Hag, losing five of their first 10 Premier League games, being defeated in both of their opening Champions League games and being dumped out of the Carabao Cup by Newcastle on Wednesday night.
That has led to club chiefs drawing up a shortlist of potential replacements for the Dutchman, with Zidane one of the leading names in contention.. The Frenchman is still out of a job despite enjoying a hugely successful spell at La Liga giants Real Madrid.
He won three Champions Leagues and two La Liga titles at Los Blancos, though is yet to return to management since leaving the Bernabeu in 2021. Despite that, it would appear unlikely that he would take up the chance to take charge of United.
"Do I want to go to Manchester? I understand English, but I don't master it completely. I know that there are coaches who go to clubs without speaking the language, but I work in a different way," he told Marca last year.
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"Many elements come into play to win, it is a global context. I know what I need to win. When I was a player I could choose and go to almost all the clubs. As a coach, there are not fifty clubs I can go to.
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Zinedine Zidane has been floated as a potential replacement for Erik ten Hag (Ruben Albarran / Pressinphoto / Icon Sport)"There are two or three possibilities. If I return to a club it is to win. I say that with all modesty. That's why I can't go anywhere. I still want to continue training. And then, why not be in a project where I myself am the leader?"
Though the vultures are circling over Old Trafford, Ten Hag is adamant he is the right man to lead United. And following the defeat to Newcastle, the Dutchman insisted he can turn things around, despite their poor form.
"I understand that when the results are not there, it is a logical process to question [the manager]. But I am confident I can do it. With all my clubs I have done it and also last year I did it here as well. In this moment, we are in a bad place," he said.
"I take responsibility for it. I see it as a challenge. It is not good enough. We know that. We were in the game and in a couple of minutes we gave the game away. That's below our standards and we know that. We have to take responsibility for this.
"You only get your confidence when you take responsibility and you fight and you are winning and dictating the crowd. When you do that, you get results and from there you build your own confidence.
"Confidence is something that is in your own hands and that is individual but of course you have to do it as a team. You have to stick together. You have to stick together but you have to be disciplined and you have to do it. And [have] togetherness. Everyone has to take responsibility, be accountable and cooperate – that’s the key word."