“Critics won’t make me flee”: De Zerbi gives cryptic response to United job links

The other day, Michael Carrick was unveiled as Manchester United’s caretaker head coach. The former midfielder is expected to guide United until the end of the season. Carrick will be hoping to turn United’s fortunes around. At the very least, he will aim to restore the Red Devils to Champions League football. Carrick’s hope If the 44‑year‑old can bring back the feel‑good factor at the Theatre of Dreams, he will hope his work earns him a permanent role. As Carrick sets out to prove himself, INEOS will quietly weigh up who they believe is the perfect long‑term appointment. Roberto De Zerbi and Oliver Glasner have already been considered prime candidates for the United job. Glasner, who has openly admitted he will leave Crystal Palace at the end of the season in search of a new adventure, has strategically positioned himself for a move. De Zerbi speaks Interestingly, while Glasner appears easier to capture, De Zerbi is not. The Olympique Marseille head coach, speaking to the media ahead of his side’s weekend clash with Angers, hinted at his desire to remain at the Stade Vélodrome for the long term. “No critics, whoever they are and wherever they come from, will change my opinion on my work, nor my desire to stay at the club,” De Zerbi said, as per Get Football News French. “They come from the radio, former players, who are trying to hurt the club. There are even some people bothered by the fact that I am Italian. None of that changes what I think about Marseille and OM.” De Zerbi off the list If United had hoped to lure De Zerbi, his latest admissions make that pursuit appear hopeless. The Italian manager clearly believes he is where he needs to be, and few can blame him. In two years with Marseille, he has transformed Les Phocéens into one of Europe’s top‑performing sides. He may well want to see his project through to the end. While De Zerbi looks set to stay put in France, United must still identify the right tactical mastermind to take charge in Manchester. If not De Zerbi, then who? Carrick, if he impresses, could launch a strong case for the role. Glasner, should he turn Palace’s fortunes around after a tricky spell, could also prove himself worthy of the Old Trafford hot seat. Beyond those two, PSG’s Luis Enrique and England boss Thomas Tuchel remain high‑profile names firmly on United’s radar. In the end, it is a waiting game, waiting to see who will be trusted as the ultimate replacement for Ruben Amorim. The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Daniel Onguko Dan is a writer with The Peoples Person, an avid Manchester United fan whose passion for the Red Devils evolved into writing about them. He was introduced to United back in 2008, and his love for the club has continued to grow ever since. Like every other United fan, he believes the club will soon return to its rightful place and strives to reflect that belief in his writing. While he has also written about other Premier League sides, including Arsenal for Just Arsenal and The Arsenal Analysis Blogspot, Dan lives and breathes Manchester United.