Crystal Palace manager would have trouble turning down United if they approached him, pundit adds
Oliver Glasner is a highly capable coach but not the right fit for Manchester United, according to pundit Paul Merson.
United’s ongoing struggles under current head coach Ruben Amorim have fuelled speculation about possible alternatives, with Glasner, Crystal Palace’s manager, among those linked.
In his column for Sky Sports, Merson sang the praises of the Austrian for transforming Palace since his arrival.
“What a job he’s done [at Palace] – it’s unbelievable really,” said Merson. “He’s a brilliant manager. He doesn’t get too up and doesn’t get too down. It’s very impressive.
“He’s put a team together and they are all very comfortable in their positions. Everyone knows their job in the team. He has the players for the system and that’s huge.”
Glasner guided Eintracht Frankfurt to Europa League success before joining Palace in February 2024, and the Austrian has since led the club to their first major trophy on the grandest of occasions, pipping Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City to the FA Cup trophy at Wembley in May.
He is also in the middle of an 18-game unbeaten run in the Premier League. His side’s latest victory, a late win over Liverpool, underlined the progress made at Selhurst Park.
However, Merson warned Glasner’s tactical approach would not translate well to United’s context. The former Arsenal midfielder believes United’s squad lacks the attributes to make the Austrian’s system work, pointing to Amorim’s own difficulties in adapting his style since leaving Sporting for Old Trafford.
“Let’s say Ruben Amorim was manager at Palace now, he’d have half a chance of being a success. Palace have the players to play three at the back. They have the attributes in their squad to play in that system.
“For me, that’s why I’d be concerned about Glasner going to Man Utd. He’s a three-at-the-back man and it is being proven that it is a system that just doesn’t fit the players at Man Utd. Glasner is not a good fit for Man Utd.”
Still, Merson acknowledged the lure of United remains powerful.
“It’s been proven over the years that people can’t turn down United. Even though what is going on at the club is not great, the name is still one of the biggest clubs in the world.
“How do you turn that down? You don’t.
“Any manager going to United would know they have their work cut out, but they would still not turn down the opportunity. It might never come again.”
