MY ACCOUNT
Micah Richards reckons Manchester United should have appointed Antonio Conte as their manager instead of interim boss Ralf Rangnick.
United’s hopes of finishing in the Premier League’s top four were dealt a hammer blow by a humbling 4-1 Manchester derby defeat on Sunday, which combined with Arsenal’s win at Watford saw them drop out of the Champions League spots.
That has lead to questions over the decision to install Rangnick as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s replacement last November.
Former Premier League winner Conte was available at the time but United chiefs opted for an interim appointment, with the Italian later taking charge at Tottenham.
And Richards has questioned why 63-year-old Rangnick — who had not been in a managerial role for more than two years prior to his interim appointment — was brought in.
Speaking on Sky Sports, the ex-Manchester City defender said: “Why give him the manager’s job in the first place? Are you just writing off the season by getting him in?”
Under ex-RB Lepizig boss Rangnick, United have picked up an underwhelming 26 points from the 42 available and were also dumped out of the FA Cup by Championship outfit Middlesbrough.
Asked by fellow pundit Gary Neville about what United should have done, 33-year-old Richards said: “They should have gone for Conte. He was available before he went to Spurs and he was the best available manager at the time.
“Just because he doesn’t fit the ‘Man United way’, he didn’t get in? The ‘Man United way’ doesn’t exist anymore. They don’t win any trophies.
“Conte is a winner. He has come from Inter Milan. Do United not want winners now? He wins. He wins.”
But Neville, 47, claimed Conte was also not the right choice to take over at Old Trafford.
The United legend said: “United didn’t want Conte. Conte is not a manager for Manchester United, he comes in for one or two years and leaves.
“United have been there with Jose Mourinho. They want to appoint [Mauricio] Pochettino or Erik ten Hag on a long-term project but needed someone to get them until the end of the season.”
Pep: We are a pain in Liverpool’s a***
Kevin De Bruyne and Riyad Mahrez both netted twice as City restored their lead over Liverpool in the title race to six points.
And boss Pep Guardiola admits the Reds are the toughest opponents he has faced in his managerial career.
He said: “I said many times the success as a manager is the fact that year after year we still run like we are there to win again, even after three titles.
“We remain humble and continue to play every single game, do it and be there, these guys have done it many, many times.
“To fight with them [Liverpool] is one of the biggest achievements of my career. They are outstanding.
“Hopefully we can say we are a pain in the a*** for Liverpool, too.
“Liverpool are the toughest opponents I have ever faced in my 12-13 years as a manager.”
