Gareth Southgate is reportedly on Manchester United’s radar (Picture: Getty)
Gary Neville says he has never viewed Gareth Southgate as a suitable fit for Manchester United and supporters would be ‘sceptical’ about the ex-England manager taking charge.
Southgate was high up on United’s shortlist of candidates to replace Erik ten Hag at the start of the summer but the Red Devils went on to give the Dutchman their backing in the wake of the side’s shock FA Cup final win over Manchester City.
The likes of Mauricio Pochettino, Graham Potter, Thomas Tuchel and Zinedine Zidane were also linked with United before Ten Hag put pen to paper on a contract extension at the Theatre of Dreams.
It has been another wretched start to the season for the Old Trafford giants, though, and the latest reports indicate that Ten Hag has just two matches to save his job, starting away to Porto in the Europa League tomorrow night.
Southgate’s close relationship with United’s sporting director, Dan Ashworth, has been well-documented and, according to the i, INEOS have identified the 54-year-old as their top managerial candidate should Ten Hag be dismissed.
But United legend Neville has his doubts and does not see an obvious ‘connection’ between his former club and Southgate.
‘I said last season that I’ve never seen Gareth as a fit for Manchester United or Manchester United to be a fit for Gareth,’ the ex-United and England right-back said on The Overlap US.
Neville believes fans would be ‘sceptical’ about Southgate taking charge (Picture: Getty)
‘I’ve never seen it as something, to be fair, the club would do, I’ve never seen it as something Manchester United would do.
‘The only connection I see is that Dan Ashworth has worked with Gareth and Gareth has done a very good job with England but I’ve never seen that connection before.
‘Manchester United fans are a bunch of people who have feeling, who have a spirit, and I don’t think they’re connected to this idea yet.
Ten Hag has two games to save his job (Picture: Getty)
‘Gareth could do exactly what he’s done with England if he was to come in the next few months or year or whatever it may be and completely change people’s thinking and change the dynamic around the decision.
‘But actually pre-the move, he would come in, not unusually for him because he came into the England job with not a lot of love, but he would be coming into Manchester United with, not necessarily not a lot of love, but coming in with scepticism.
‘There is no doubt about that from Manchester United fans. He would know that.’
Southgate stepped down as England after after Euro 2024 (Picture: Getty)
While not necessarily the most ‘exciting’ appointment, Neville believes Southgate would be capable of ‘weeding out the nonsense’ in United’s dressing room if he was selected as Ten Hag’s successor.
‘Gareth has been around the block and he would know that it’s not the most exciting appointment for Manchester …read more
Source:: Metro
