Manchester United legend Patrice Evra feels that the club’s decision to not appoint Antonio Conte, who is now doing an excellent job at Tottenham, was wrong.
Evra believes that the Italian is among the best managers in the world at the moment alongside Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp.
He won the Serie A with Inter Milan in 2021, the first time the club had lifted the trophy in 11 years.
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“It hurts my heart. Some people at the club say Conte’s not what they’re looking for. He doesn’t fit their style," Evra told MailOnline. "And you can see with Tottenham. He helped them qualify for the Champions League.
"It is a massive disappointment because could’ve done something at United"
After Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was sacked, Conte was out of a job and United would’ve had a clear run at him.
Reports also said that Conte himself was keen to take the job.
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Evra also gave glowing reviews regarding Conte’s strengths as a manager.
“Conte’s so passionate about football. You’re gonna run really hard, he’s going to make you sweat.
"But if you look at Tottenham fans now, they’re happy with their team because whether the team win or lose, the players give everything. That is the mentality of Antonio Conte."
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Such qualities are very much needed at United. With a squad that are often accused of lacking determination and fight.
Someone like Conte could’ve came in, steadied the ship, and installed winning mentality at United.
This is exactly what the former Chelsea manager did at Tottenham.
He completely changed the way his team played, started by switching to his signature three at the back formation. This decision shored up their defence and made them a harder team to beat.
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Following their surprise away win against eventual champions Manchester City, Conte led his team to win ten out of the last 15 Premier League to clinch a Champions League spot ahead of Arsenal.
Two of the factors that made Conte’s transformation at Tottenham possible were the arrivals of Rodrigo Bentancur and Dejan Kulusevski from Juventus during the January transfer window.
Conte is, of course, known to be very demanding to his previous clubs and players, both in demanding signings and demanding the highest level of performances.
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Reports from the Telegraph said United had concerns that Conte’s micro-management style would not have rubbed well with many players in the current squad especially the younger players.
With only a matter of days before Erik ten Hag’s first training session, United has failed to deliver any signings for the new manager.
It is very hard to imagine someone like Conte accepting that kind of situation. All things considered, United and Conte just don’t seem to be a good fit for one another.
Featured Image Credit: AlamyTopics: Antonio Conte, Patrice Evra, Manchester United, Manchester United Transfer News & Rumours, Transfers, Erik Ten Hag, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Tottenham Hotspur, Football, Premier League