Manchester United have identified an alternative to Gareth Southgate, should the decision to stick with Erik ten Hag backfire.
The Dutchman was effectively given a vote of confidence by Sir Jim Ratcliffe earlier this summer and granted a third season in charge.
After presiding over the worst Premier League campaign in United’s history, Ten Hag appeared destined to pay the price by losing his job before he masterminded a surprise FA Cup final win over Manchester City.
Despite that success, United bided their time before confirming he would remain in the job having spoken directly with several potential replacements.
Southgate is understood to be held in high-esteem by Ratcliffe but, according to Mail Sport, United would be ‘highly unlikely’ to hire the now former England manager should Ten Hag fail to reverse United’s fortunes.
Thomas Tuchel, ironically a leading contender to replace Southgate as England manager, is said to be United’s first choice in the event that the new season starts with a series of poor results.
United began their pre-season campaign in less than impressive fashion on Monday when they were beaten by Norwegian side Rosenborg, after which Ten Hag ripped into his players.
He said: ‘The result is not secondary,’ Ten Hag told the MUTV. ‘Of course, we play pre-season but at Man United the standard is you win games and definitely don’t lose games.
‘So if you can’t win, don’t lose the game, like we did in the last second of the game. But of course, the performance is more important and the performance was below standards.
‘Let’s say he (Vitek) got the opportunity from the team to make some very good saves because the performance from the team is, by far, not good enough.
‘We can talk [about] everything that is bad, but I’m not that guy. I have seen and this is not the standard for top football.
‘Top football, you have to achieve much higher standards, starts with any individual, make sure you’re fit.
‘I know we can’t be match-fit in this moment, I know you need these games. The opponent is in the league, they have a much higher fitness level.
‘But we are Man United and players from Man United, a team from Man United, should perform better.’
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