Paul Scholes tips Enzo Maresca for Premier League job after Chelsea exit | Football

Paul Scholes ‘wouldn’t be surprised’ if Enzo Maresca was offered the Manchester United job but expects the former Chelsea manager to end up at Manchester City.

United are searching for a new boss after sacking Ruben Amorim on Monday following a disappointing 14-month reign.

The Red Devils finished just 15th in the Premier League last season under Amorim and have continued to flatter to deceive this term.

Form on the pitch was not the only issue United encountered with Amorim, however, as the ex-Sporting boss made a number of explosive comments in press conferences, the last of which came after Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Leeds.

Amorim warned those above him at Old Trafford not to interfere with his job, having seemingly criticised the club for their reluctance to back him in the transfer market just days earlier.

Darren Fletcher, the former United midfielder, has been placed in interim charge of the team and will be in the dugout for Wednesday’s clash against Burnley.

The Red Devils intend to appoint a caretaker manager until the end of the season before deciding on Amorim’s permanent replacement in the summer.

Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner and England manager Thomas Tuchel, who is only contracted to the Three Lions until the end of the World Cup, are two of the early frontrunners for the job.

Maresca has also been linked just days after his exit at Stamford Bridge and Scholes ‘would not be surprised’ if the Italian was a top target for his former club.

But Scholes believes appointing Maresca would be a mistake and says he would be a better fit for Manchester City as they look for Pep Guardiola’s long-term successor.

Guardiola is contracted to Man City until the end of next season and Etihad bosses are believed to view his former assistant Maresca as a candidate for the top gig.

‘Enzo Maresca leaving Chelsea might have spooked Ruben Amorim a bit because of the relationship he has with the ex-Man City people in Jason Wilcox and Omar Berrada,’ Scholes said on The Good, The Bad and The Football podcast.

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‘Is Maresca the right man for Man United? I don’t see it. He’s that Man City style of manager.

‘People have been speculating about Pep leaving, he’s lasted at City longer than any other club so that’s why people think at some point he’s going to go.

‘Maresca does feel like a really good replacement for him at Man City. He doesn’t feel right for Man United but he does for Man City.’

Scholes’ former Manchester United and England teammate Nicky Butt added: ‘If I was a Man City fan I would want to get him in.

‘He knows the club’s philosophy, he knows how Pep works and it wouldn’t be too much of a change from what they have now.’ 

On speculation linking Maresca with a shock move to Old Trafford, Scholes said: ‘I wouldn’t be surprised if it was Enzo Maresca, it really wouldn’t surprise me.

‘I just think the connection is there, they might think it’s a safe bet given they know him. But he’s left Chelsea because he didn’t have total control – is he going to come to United given why Amorim left?

‘It’s impossible to know. You can’t get inside their heads – we don’t know what Jason Wilcox is thinking.’

Chelsea scored an injury-time equaliser to earn a 1-1 draw against Manchester City in their first game since Maresca’s departure.

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