Regardless of what Michael Carrick manages at Manchester United in the coming weeks, the spectre of Antonio Conte is going to be looming over him.
The Manchester United boss may have eased the pressure on himself with a big comeback against Roma this week, but that was a temporary fix to the huge problems at Old Trafford.
United’s start to the season is their worst start to a league campaign in 40 years, with one win four draws and four defeats leaving Manchester United on the brink of the relegation zone.
If results go against them this weekend, they could find themselves in that bottom three.
Conte option
Few would have predicted that situation after another summer of spending and the positive end to last season under Carrick.
The pressure is on him to pick up results and points quickly, particularly with Conte seemingly on the lookout for a new job.
He’s only been out of work since leaving Napoli in June. But he appears eager to get back to work as soon as possible. A third stint in the Premier League – after spells at Chelsea and Tottenham – looks plausible too.
Whether he would be a good fit at Old Trafford is a topic of debate. While some Manchester United fans would be happy to see the Italian put a fire under this current group, others are concerned about the long-term impacts.
Afterall, Conte’s jobs have typically lasted exactly two seasons or less.
Since leaving Juventus in 2014, Conte has never lasted longer than two years at a single club. So, Manchester United could find themselves in a very difficult situation again before too long.
Di Canio opinion
Paolo di Cano isn’t going to suggest he’d be an ideal fit. But he will say that the Italian would bring some much-needed organisation to Manchester United.
“Is Conte a good fit for Manchester United? Antonio would bring organization to a club that currently operates in a purely ad-hoc, improvised manner,” he told La Repubblica.
“Right now, it’s still a disorganized, ragtag bunch. The success against Roma helps us see the difference between the Premier League and Serie A.
“By simply applying a bit of spirit, they completely steamrolled Gasperini’s side. They’re a team that, back here, is devastating in terms of its tempo.”
The question is whether United move for him at any point in the coming weeks. For now, they appear determined to back Carrick despite a historically poor start to the season. But how long that patience stays if results do not improve, remains to be seen.
Until that point, we’re sure to hear more about what Conte would bring as he clearly looks for his next destination.
