Thiago Motta has reportedly emerged as a potential replacement for Erik ten Hag at Manchester United after his excellent work with Bologna.
The former Barcelona, Inter Milan and Paris Saint-Germain midfielder, 41, has unfancied Bologna on course for Champions League football with the team currently fourth in Serie A.
Motta's contract expires in the summer and while Bologna hope he will renew, Gazzetta dello Sport are linking the Brazil-born former Italy International with United and Juventus.
Ten Hag's future at Old Trafford is in jeopardy as they struggle to make next season's Champions League by making the top five in the Premier League.
New co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos will assess the Dutchman's performance in the summer with Ten Hag also hoping to deliver the FA Cup to Old Trafford to save his job.
Motta quickly moved into coaching after retiring from playing in 2018, taking charge of PSG's under-19 side before returning to Italy for stints with Genoa and Spezia.
After keeping Spezia in Serie A against all odds in 2022, he replaced Sinisa Mihajlovic at Bologna in September 2022 and guided them to a ninth-place finish last season.
But this season, Motta has lifted Bologna to a whole new level using his unorthodox formation that is a 4-3-3 which could be interpreted as a 2-7-2.
Motta has committed himself to playing offensive football, with his players capable of occupying multiple positions and with whoever is on the ball having three or four team-mates available.
These qualities would certainly appeal to United but they would reportedly face stiff competition from Juventus as Massimiliano Allegri struggles to keep hold of his job.
Motta's agent, Dario Canovi, has always maintained his client will coach in the Champions League one day.
That would likely be next season at either Juventus or Bologna but is far from guaranteed at United, who are currently on course for Europa League football.
They dropped five points late on against Brentford and Chelsea in recent days, denting their chances of catching Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur ahead of them.
Having already lost 12 league matches this season, Ten Hag's team are 12 points behind Villa in fourth and nine adrift of Spurs in fifth with eight to play.
United host arch-rivals and title chasers Liverpool on Sunday afternoon.
akeem”784
1
your the brain dead one do you honestly think our players are as good as you think both Bruno and rashford have been poor fir the most part of this season hoiyland has been in and out because of injuries same to mount, amrabat is ass, Antony has just been kept out cause garnacho is better.Even if ten hag wanted to play counter attacking football the players would still screw that up. but please if you have a different opinion please give me the squad you'd use.Ungrateful fans there's been promise if you look closely at games like wolves when he's had he's good players. And don't give me that crap that he's got the players he asked for the board have screwed this season he wanted a back up cb he got Evans he didn't even get a back up leftback and striker so please until you watch more football pipe down.
im happy it took me a while to see this nonsense 😂
peuknor
0
Just shut up n let ETH manage
cuzdeiklru
1
sack all the medical staff at Manchester United
cuzdeiklru
1
nonsense. can he manage the rate of injuries and flops manage by ETH?
tedacdilms
0
And he's the only one who has beaten the Inter Milan team this season in the Seria A
tedacdilms
0
Motta is a good coach.. From his stats he's team is a possession playing team.. He like to be on the ball and control the game I think he's got the Barcelona DNA in him
Roocnotuy
0
we utd fan's should pray utd should not qualify for Europe and stick with Ten hag whatever happens this season let it happen and start from there next season bringing Southgate won't do anything he's a coach who plays with players on form not a coach who will come and suffer when injuries hit the road whatever the case let's stick with Ten hag
a decade has gone thinking the same way.
Roocnotuy
1
another mishap from winning position. why amad is not substituted.2 bald heads cant think to defend the lead. same mistakes . ETH has to volunteer himself to resign. why have so many youngsters on bench.
Zeabckorty
1
nonsense
ArchangelRaphael
0
Eric should be given a chance to coach under 21teams
Ltm004
3
you sound brain dead because if a MANAGER has players used to counter attacking players then play counter attacking football until you get your players… and even today Mount Eriksen and Amrabat, three players he signed are on the bench… Antony as well 🤦🏾♂️ simple common sense
your the brain dead one do you honestly think our players are as good as you think both Bruno and rashford have been poor fir the most part of this season hoiyland has been in and out because of injuries same to mount, amrabat is ass, Antony has just been kept out cause garnacho is better.Even if ten hag wanted to play counter attacking football the players would still screw that up. but please if you have a different opinion please give me the squad you'd use.Ungrateful fans there's been promise if you look closely at games like wolves when he's had he's good players. And don't give me that crap that he's got the players he asked for the board have screwed this season he wanted a back up cb he got Evans he didn't even get a back up leftback and striker so please until you watch more football pipe down.
Yuuaclmny
1
Haha 😂 tomorrow it will be someone else? Stop all this fake news
Daphoenix23
0
anyone who think Erik ten hag is good coach should die before this year end is nowhere near even primary teacher ole gunnar that show you how bad ten hag is is not coach is hockey team coach not football he doesn't know football is dreaming day to be football coach
This is what you get when you attend all dos satanic groups masquerading as churches.. Just see your smelling mindset. Psycho
akeem”784
0
stupid what type of play style do you think can be played when our teams been full of injuries when he's having to use a backline that can't play with a high press and egotistical players that have trouble playing possession football and who's play style is suited to counter attacking footballs.This is the problem with braindead fans thinking everything will be solved if we just get a new manager.Were not at level of top 4 team we have to build towards it for FCK sake accept that's it's gonna take time.Look at arsenal.Ten hag deserve another season with more backing to remove and bring in more players that's only fair with what's happened this season.
you sound brain dead because if a MANAGER has players used to counter attacking players then play counter attacking football until you get your players… and even today Mount Eriksen and Amrabat, three players he signed are on the bench… Antony as well 🤦🏾♂️ simple common sense
Ltm004
4
Any coach with a style of play wud do. Ten Hag is just nonsense
stupid what type of play style do you think can be played when our teams been full of injuries when he's having to use a backline that can't play with a high press and egotistical players that have trouble playing possession football and who's play style is suited to counter attacking footballs.This is the problem with braindead fans thinking everything will be solved if we just get a new manager.Were not at level of top 4 team we have to build towards it for FCK sake accept that's it's gonna take time.Look at arsenal.Ten hag deserve another season with more backing to remove and bring in more players that's only fair with what's happened this season.
APReal19
2
Any coach with a style of play wud do. Ten Hag is just nonsense
Duzackost
0
This will always one way
W0linhO
0
They want the rookies
cohaknstu
2
anyone who think Erik ten hag is good coach should die before this year end is nowhere near even primary teacher ole gunnar that show you how bad ten hag is is not coach is hockey team coach not football he doesn't know football is dreaming day to be football coach
you are a big fool to wish people death based on their opinions in football.
Tanaklorst
1
anyone who think Erik ten hag is good coach should die before this year end is nowhere near even primary teacher ole gunnar that show you how bad ten hag is is not coach is hockey team coach not football he doesn't know football is dreaming day to be football coach
tanbpstuy
1
bring sporting club de Portugal coach they bring us luck
rafaeljoel
6
we utd fan's should pray utd should not qualify for Europe and stick with Ten hag whatever happens this season let it happen and start from there next season bringing Southgate won't do anything he's a coach who plays with players on form not a coach who will come and suffer when injuries hit the road whatever the case let's stick with Ten hag
Bouaeiosuy
0
Ruben Amorim is better
fredymhagama10
3
based on current squard of mutd, even Pep will struggle to make UTD excel. The first problem of Man UTD is, the squard has a lot of average players (Not good enough). Instead of sacking ETH, The club should first get rid of these average players.
jeabcekmpu
0
That's good move..... Let's depart from this fake blad hair. Erik Ten Hag didn't deserve to give a second chance.
You're ass is high manigar
nipabinou
0
If Thiago Motta knows what best for him, he should reject any offer from that club. united are destroying ETH career bcuz of how badly that club is run. even the new owners which us fans thought will have what it takes to run the club are going the same route as the glazers, clowns..... support ETH with a proper football club structire and see what he can do.United can hire Pep and he will dearly fail like a mf
how tf u can still support eth? all his major signing is ex ajax and overprice af, 400mil spent and failed hard. if u a club owner what will you do? utd have no identity to play, tell me what is it if utd have one.
Sambdklmz
0
we will continue sacking until we find the right manager Erik ten hag time is up.
that's the only problem Man united is facing right now, a good manager, remember Liverpool have been in this situation and it took them 20 yrs to win premier league, they keep on sacking until they get the right manager which klopp.
mumadimz
1
since the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson, United lost control. but they missed by allowing Sir to chose moyes instead of the special one
Kumbkmrst
1
with the current crop of players on board even pep and klop combined won't do much at United!
Pass2Pogba
0
we will continue sacking until we find the right manager Erik ten hag time is up.
this will never fix anything.
Sambdklmz
1
we will continue sacking until we find the right manager Erik ten hag time is up.
soplrstyz
3
I don’t think ETH is bad coach not at all. He needs time to do the right things. Gunners and lipool gave their manager enough time and look at what they are doing now. Changing coaches affect the team play. Those posting false information should stop.
Ages_98
0
bringing in average league coaches will always end up with undesirable consequences
You calling someone an average coach after our Manchester united has turned all the world class coaches to below average 🤣🤣.
soplrstyz
1
Someone who has not even guide under 18 in England to coach united. Funny post.
Futcmnptuz
0
If Thiago Motta knows what best for him, he should reject any offer from that club. united are destroying ETH career bcuz of how badly that club is run. even the new owners which us fans thought will have what it takes to run the club are going the same route as the glazers, clowns..... support ETH with a proper football club structire and see what he can do.United can hire Pep and he will dearly fail like a mf
Exactly
AllEyesOnMe2023
0
That's good move..... Let's depart from this fake blad hair. Erik Ten Hag didn't deserve to give a second chance.
these are one of tbose useless man utd fans who instead of looking at the bigger picture they want quick solution.Brain comes from God so please use accordingly
AllEyesOnMe2023
1
If Thiago Motta knows what best for him, he should reject any offer from that club. united are destroying ETH career bcuz of how badly that club is run. even the new owners which us fans thought will have what it takes to run the club are going the same route as the glazers, clowns..... support ETH with a proper football club structire and see what he can do.United can hire Pep and he will dearly fail like a mf
MumbaRk
0
bringing in average league coaches will always end up with undesirable consequences
u can't say Italian league is average and yet they have better coaches and players than the English league
Chocboi78
0
Welcomed idea
sen10r
0
let him leave and bring in Zinedine Zidane
Zidane is a coward who'll never leave his comfort zone. He'd rather wait for a France job than challenge himself elsewhere.
Muhbckps
1
Look at all these
Vonabcilmp
0
Do you deserve yourself a second chance?
well spoken bro
patapata
0
Mou the special one can win us trophies now that the virus is gone! 🫣😂
Yacadkmnoz
0
That's good move..... Let's depart from this fake blad hair. Erik Ten Hag didn't deserve to give a second chance.
Do you deserve yourself a second chance?
woabdimosu
2
bringing in average league coaches will always end up with undesirable consequences
pemakmnpy
0
let him leave and bring in Zinedine Zidane
zidane won't go to utd he don't like England. he waiting for the French international job
wemekmrz
2
let him leave and bring in Zinedine Zidane
EZEUDO
4
That's good move..... Let's depart from this fake blad hair. Erik Ten Hag didn't deserve to give a second chance.