TV pundit Chris Sutton has expressed his belief that Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna has the potential to replace Erik ten Hag if the Manchester United boss were to lose his job. Currently sitting in eighth place with 31 points after 20 Premier League matches, United recently faced a defeat against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground, marking their ninth loss in the league this season.
With challenges in the Carabao Cup, the Champions League, and the FA Cup being their only realistic chance of winning silverware, pressure is mounting on Ten Hag to improve the team’s performance. The impending deal for Sir Jim Ratcliffe to take over sporting operations at Old Trafford adds an element of uncertainty to Ten Hag’s position.
According to Sutton, McKenna, who was previously an assistant under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at United, is a strong candidate for the managerial role. Despite being initially criticized during his time with the Red Devils, McKenna has garnered attention with Ipswich Town, where he currently manages the team, which is sitting in second place in the championship, 10 points behind Leicester City.
Sutton praised McKenna as “phenomenal” on the It’s All Kicking Off Podcast, acknowledging the admirable job he has done at Ipswich Town. McKenna’s success has reportedly attracted interest from Premier League clubs such as Crystal Palace and Brighton. Sutton expressed a potential return to Manchester United for McKenna, stating, “He could be back there one day.”
Reflecting on McKenna’s journey from a ridiculed assistant to a successful championship manager, Sutton and his fellow podcast participant, Ladyman, noted the unexpected turn of events. Ladyman highlighted that McKenna’s achievements were not anticipated when he left Manchester United’s coaching team under Solskjaer.
While the issue of Ten Hag’s potential successor remains speculative, the podcast discussion emphasized McKenna’s impressive managerial abilities and the interest he has generated from notable clubs, hinting at a possible return to a higher-profile position, including a potential return to Manchester United in the future.
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