It’s certainly a bold claim, Danny.
Former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy has claimed that Gareth Southgate would do a better job as Manchester United manager than Erik ten Hag will do.
Ten Hag, who signed a three-year contract to be the Red Devils’ new permanent boss, replaced interim manager Ralf Rangnick in the Old Trafford hot seat this summer.
However, Murphy, who made 417 Premier League appearances, believes that England manager Southgate and his assistant Steve Holland would have been a better choice for United.
The Three Lions boss has never won a trophy as a manager.
Southgate has led England to the World Cup semi-final and European Championship final in his two major tournaments in charge, but is yet to win a trophy during his reign as Three Lions boss.
Murphy was on talkSPORT on Monday morning and was asked who he would prefer to manage a top-flight club between Southgate and Ten Hag. He responded: “Gareth and Steve.”
He then elaborated on his opinion, adding: “Well I know them. They’ve come a long way, the pair of them, they’ve got a great partnership.
“I think for what they’ve achieved at England, the way he’s managed players, big players, I think he’s evolved into a very, very intelligent football manager. With Steve by his side, I think they’d do a great job at a big club.”
🙏 “Southgate has evolved into a very intelligent football manager.”
🤝 “What Man Utd need is someone to bring this squad together and try to create a unity like England have!”
Danny Murphy would have chosen Gareth Southgate 𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧 Erik ten Hag to be the new #MUFC manager! 🔴 pic.twitter.com/H4WIRiR6m1
— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) June 6, 2022
Murphy has doubts over Ten Hag’s ability to manage high-profile players.
The 52-year-old Ten Hag left Ajax having won three Eredivisie titles in the last four seasons, and Murphy insists that the Dutchman arrives in Manchester with a strong pedigree behind him.
However, he does have doubts over Ten Hag’s ability to manage high-profile players – suggesting that Southgate has shown he can do just that in his time in charge of England.
“What United need now isn’t all about on the pitch. They’ll be judged on that but initially what do United need?” said Murphy.
“They need someone to bring together this squad and to try and create a unity and an atmosphere and an energy that England have. I think that would be fair.
“I think what Ten Hag has done is of course credible, winning the league three or four times at Ajax, did alright at Utrecht, but he’s not managed big players at a big club so we don’t know how he’s going to deal with that pressure. Every part of his life is going to be magnified.
“Whether he goes to the wrong shop at the wrong time, whether he drives the wrong car, everything he does is now going to be talked about.”
Ten Hag orders full report on every United player.
The Dutchman is wasting no time in laying down the law early into his United tenure and has ordered reports on every single player ahead of their return for pre-season.
He wants to ensure standards haven’t been slipping during players’ time away and according to the Mirror, he has demanded that he be informed about each players’ home and family life so he can get the best judgement of their character.
He wants to know so much that Ten Hag has even requested for the United squad to log where they have been on holiday so that they can return in the best shape possible.
