Man United-linked manager ‘deserves more respect’ from fans after latest comments

Robbie Savage has demanded Manchester United fans show Kieran McKenna more respect following suggestions that he won’t have have the respect of players.

Erik ten Hag’s future is set to be decided this week as the Manchester United hierarchy take on a season review following a campaign that has seen the squad win the FA Cup while sitting eighth in the Premier League table and out of the Champions League by Christmas.

The FA Cup win was undoubtedly the highlight of the season, and other fantastic results accompanying it, but for the most part, results have been poor.

For this reason, there have been significant rumours surrounding Ten Hag’s position at the club, with INEOS sounding out other potential candidates should they choose to sack the Dutchman this week.

Multiple reports have confirmed that INEOS has Mauicio Pochettinho, Thomas Frank, Thomas Tuchel, and Kieran McKenna in mind as its four potential managerial replacements. Latest reports have added that Roberto De Zerbi could be an outside shout.

The latter has caused the most intrigue. After coaching under Ole Gunnar Solskjær at United, McKenna left to become Ipswich Town’s first-team manager, leading them to back-to-back promotions from League One to the Premier League.

However, although some fans are excited at the prospect of a young manager taking over the club, others have questioned if he would be able to command the respect of some of the senior players at Old Trafford.

However, former United academy player and Premier League midfielder Robbie Savage has lamented this claim, explaining that he has already earned the ability to command respect from professional players.

“You tell me why? You tell me why a respected coach who has earned it, he was at Manchester United, has done the hard yards, he has built his way up, he has got back-to-back promotions with Ipswich Town, a big football club,” Savage told BBC 606.

“And if he got the job at Manchester United, don’t you think because he has managed Ipswich, he doesn’t get the respect? I think that’s wrong.”