If you have been following the news around Manchester United, you’ll realise that Brendan Rodgers is a name that continues to be linked to the club.
The current manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, is under increasing pressure regarding his future at the club and it speaks volumes that the main topic of conversations seems to be about who the next manager is going to be.
The Manchester Evening News understands United have privately decided a change of manager will be required following the morale-crushing defeats to Liverpool and Manchester City.
It is still unclear when the club intends to sack Solskjaer as they mull over an arrival time for a replacement. There is talk that he could even remain until the end of the season.
United haven’t got rid of Solskjaer yet, but the MEN also understands Leicester City coach Brendan Rodgers is their preferred candidate, should they make a change.
Rodgers has developed an outstanding reputation across the Premier League for his managerial abilities and there are plenty of supporters who’d like to see him in the dugout at Old Trafford.
However, there are also other supporters who really don’t want Rodgers at Old Trafford. Why? Well, for starters, he managed Liverpool and secondly, some don’t see him as the most inspiring choice out of the candidates available.
Rodgers was asked about reports linking him with a move to United in his pre-match press conference, and this is what he had to say;
“It’s really disrespectful for you to ask the question when you have a good manager and a good man who is working at the club,” he said.
“Secondly, I can’t comment on it because it’s something that’s not real”.
The comments from Rodgers got us thinking about anything else he’s said about the United job in the past, so our United On My Mind writer, Omar Garrick, has taken a look at what Brendan Rodgers has said about Manchester United.
Rodgers at Liverpool
Back when Brendan Rodgers was Liverpool manager, there was always going to be heightened coverage when talking about United.
During his cameo appearance on radio station talkSPORT in 2015, Rodgers said: “When you manage Liverpool, you know the Manchester United job is gone.”
Would he take up the job then? After all, I’m not that comfortable with a former Liverpool manager taking over at the club. I know some may quote Sir Matt Busby to me, but the times were so different and the rivalry wasn’t as fierce. It’s not the same!
At the same time, Rodgers had respect for United when he was managing at Anfield and when his side won 3-0 at Old Trafford in 2014, he labelled United as a ‘wonderful team.’
He said: “We knew we respected Manchester United as the club and the team that they are.
“A wonderful team, but we had confidence and belief coming here that we could get a result.”
Clearly, there are indications that Rodgers would be willing to take on the job, but no one will know the true answer unless he’s offered the position.
Rodgers at Leicester
Other than what he said in his press conference, Rodgers hasn’t said much about the Manchester United job at Leicester City, but when reports circulated linking him to both the United and Manchester City position last month, this is what he said in response to speculation;
“I don’t even think about it – and that’s the brutal honesty. I’m sure the supporters are probably tired of it. At Leicester, there is always a link,” he said.
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“My focus is always here with Leicester and developing the football club on to that next level, where you’re competing for European football and challenging for honours.
“Everyone here at the club, from the chief executive to the director of football – staff, players – we’re all very much on the same path, same vision.”
Clearly, Rodgers doesn’t let rumours affect him and it remains to be seen whether he becomes the next man in the dugout at Old Trafford.
Should Rodgers replace Solskjaer? Follow our United On My Mind writer Omar Garrick on Twitter to get involved in the discussion and give us your thoughts on the matter in the comments section below.
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