Former Manchester United man Ben Foster believes that one “fantastic” manager can make “massive progress” at Old Trafford if he replaced Erik ten Hag at the club.
Erik ten Hag has faced mounting pressure in his second season at Old Trafford after Manchester United’s underwhelming 2023-24 campaign so far.
The Red Devils are unlikely to finish in the Premier League top four and United face the prospect of no Champions League football for the following season.
United’s Carabao Cup title defence fell well short of expectations after the Red Devils were dumped out of the competition in the round of 16 at the hands of Newcastle.
Erik ten Hag’s side underwhelmed in Europe this season as well, with United crashing out of the Champions League after finishing bottom of Group A.
However, the United boss could still end the season with major silverware, with the Red Devils still competing for the FA Cup trophy.
United face Coventry City in the FA Cup semi-finals on Sunday at Wembley, while Manchester City will take on Chelsea in the other tie for a place in the final in May.
Ten Hag came within touching distance of the FA Cup trophy last season, only for United to suffer a 2-1 defeat to crosstown rivals Manchester City at Wembley.
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Foster on ‘fantastic’ manager for Man Utd
Erik ten Hag’s future at Old Trafford remains shrouded in mystery amid Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos taking control of football operations at the Premier League club.
Manchester United have been linked with several managers as replacements for Ten Hag, including former Chelsea boss Graham Potter and Julian Nagelsmann.
Another manager linked with United is none other than England boss Gareth Southgate, who is out of contract with the Three Lions in December.
Gareth Southgate is to lead England to Euro 2024 in Germany this summer, with the Three Lions manager’s future uncertain in the aftermath of the tournament.
The 53-year-old has been in charge of England for the last three major tournaments, with Southgate securing a second-place finish at Euro 2020.
Despite Southgate’s lack of silverware success at England, Ben Foster praised the Three Lions boss’ work with the national team and the progression they have made.
The 41-year-old former United player added that Southgate could achieve “massive progress” at Old Trafford if he is able to replicate England’s sustained progression.
“Gareth’s done a fantastic job for England on the broad look of it,” Foster said on The United Stand, as per Sportskeeda.
“Look at how Southgate has done since he came in and took over and has now taken us to a team where we’re expected to get semi-finals of World Cups and Euros. That’s the way I would look at it and go well that’s massive progress.”
Foster added: “If he can do that to a Manchester United, where they’re finishing second in the league, competing for [the] Champions League, competing for FA Cups year in, year out, then that’s massive progress.”
Foster talks England boss Southgate
Foster insisted that Southgate would not be an instant success at United based on his work with the England national team alone.
However, the former United shot-stopper staunchly defended England boss Southgate from the “bandwagon” criticism that he plays “boring” football.
Foster argued that Southgate’s “proven record” speaks for itself, having led England to the World Cup semi-finals in 2018 and the quarter-finals in 2022.
“I’m not saying he can or can’t do that, but I just look at what he’s done for England and I think well it’s easy to jump on the bandwagon of saying Southgate’s boring or he’s a bit too milky but his proven record shows that he does well,” he added.
