Xavi Would Take Manchester United Job Now – But Why Barcelona Icon’s Style May Not Fit

Xavi wants the Manchester United job should the club move to get rid of current boss Ruben Amorim.

Amorim has come under serious scrutiny in recent months with United struggling in the Premier League and sitting 14th following another defeat last weekend.

Bryan Mbuemo was booed at former club Brentford who defeated United 3-1 and chucked Amorim to the top of the pile where sack calls are concerned.

Many managers would likely be queueing up for the chance to manage at Old Trafford with the club interested in Andoni Iraola while Zinedine Zidane has also been sounded out previously.

But now it is Barcelona icon Xavi who is the latest to apparently put his name forward to replace the Portuguese if the Red Devils decide to wield the axe and let him go after last season’s 15th place finish.

According to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, he claims that Xavi is ready and waiting in the wings to take the job immediately if it is presented to him and that could be a big feather in United’s cap to land the 45-year-old head coach.

Xavi to Manchester United: Barcelona icon wants to replace Amorim

Xavi has won La Liga in 2023 while also lifting the Supercopa de Espana in the same year with Barca.

He has also won trophies in Qatar with Al-Sadd before his time at his boyhood club as their boss.

The question would be, however, how would Xavi’s style suit the playing squad currently on the books at Manchester United and, indeed, would it at all?

Well, we have to look back towards Amorim and what it was that enticed United in the first place to take him from Sporting CP.

From 231 matches in charge of the Portuguese giants, Amorim’s side won 165 of those fixtures.

They also managed 33 draws and the same number of defeats as the coach enjoyed an attacking and creative style he has been simply unable to replicate at Old Trafford.

To the 202 goals his side conceded in that time, they roared back with a staggering goals tally of their own which sat at 515.

His United side, arguably, do not have the players available – even after a number of transfer windows – to do what he wants them to do.

Xavi, meanwhile, has a very specific style of play.

Xavi’s manager record at Barcelona vs Amorim’s

He wants his players to have an emphasis on possession and a high pressure and intensity press. The so-called ‘tiki-taka’ is how Xavi played himself and how he wants his squads to continue.

Again, United do not necessarily have the players at the club to fit that mold.

Like Amorim, his style produced goals and points at the Catalan giants.

From 143 games came 91 victories. Only 23 draws and 29 defeats in that time. His sides scored 280 goals and conceded 158.

We cannot say Xavi will never work at United, nor can fans claim he would be the world-beating game-changer they need.

Everything takes time, especially changing a philosophy so damaged in recent seasons.

But United need wins this season and they need them fast, otherwise relegation could become a serious threat.