Spanish football expert Graham Hunter has slammed Manchester United for reportedly snubbing the chance to appoint Pep Guardiola as manager because he lacks the the sufficient Premier League experience.
Guardiola is hot property after announcing last month he would leave his post at Bayern Munich at the end of the season, before then declaring his intentions to manage in the Premier League earlier this week.
Both Manchester clubs, Chelsea and Arsenal are allegedly in the running for the former Barcelona head coach – and Hunter claims Guardiola’s first choice would indeed be United if an offer materialised.
Hunter, however, believes the Red Devils aren’t convinced by the Guardiola project despite his unprecedented success in Spain and Germany, which may allow arch rivals City to capitalise on their hesitancy.
“I think the big surprise is that United haven’t pursued him and that it now looks like he’s going elsewhere,” Hunter told the Sports Bar.
“For some months, maybe a couple of years, he wanted to tick the box about taking over at Manchester United.
“He repeatedly talked about breathing pure football in England and being head over heels in love with the tradition, history and atmosphere at Manchester United that he saw as a player under [Sir Alex] Ferguson.
“But is he going to push aside City just because of a passion for United? No. All I am saying is it’s going to be a very big missed opportunity for the United board and fans.”
Hunter also seriously questioned the credentials of United’s executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward to take the club forward, particularly as it appears they are set to miss out on Guardiola.
He added: “Their [United’s] idea was that he [Guardiola] didn’t have the Premier League experience that they thought was essential, which I think is an atrocious idea.
“While Ed Woodward was extraordinarily good at the work that saw him rise in the organisation, I would question whether him in that post, rather than a director of football, is necessarily going to be the guy who can direct United where to go next.
“I’m not convinced that Woodward is the right man to make the football decision about Guardiola.”
Talk Sports
Both Manchester clubs, Chelsea and Arsenal are allegedly in the running for the former Barcelona head coach – and Hunter claims Guardiola’s first choice would indeed be United if an offer materialised.
Hunter, however, believes the Red Devils aren’t convinced by the Guardiola project despite his unprecedented success in Spain and Germany, which may allow arch rivals City to capitalise on their hesitancy.
“I think the big surprise is that United haven’t pursued him and that it now looks like he’s going elsewhere,” Hunter told the Sports Bar.
“For some months, maybe a couple of years, he wanted to tick the box about taking over at Manchester United.
“He repeatedly talked about breathing pure football in England and being head over heels in love with the tradition, history and atmosphere at Manchester United that he saw as a player under [Sir Alex] Ferguson.
“But is he going to push aside City just because of a passion for United? No. All I am saying is it’s going to be a very big missed opportunity for the United board and fans.”
Hunter also seriously questioned the credentials of United’s executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward to take the club forward, particularly as it appears they are set to miss out on Guardiola.
He added: “Their [United’s] idea was that he [Guardiola] didn’t have the Premier League experience that they thought was essential, which I think is an atrocious idea.
“While Ed Woodward was extraordinarily good at the work that saw him rise in the organisation, I would question whether him in that post, rather than a director of football, is necessarily going to be the guy who can direct United where to go next.
“I’m not convinced that Woodward is the right man to make the football decision about Guardiola.”
Talk Sports
No comments:
Post a Comment