Leeds United are looking far more stable than Manchester United despite the gap between the two teams in the Premier League table.
The 1-1 draw at Elland Road earlier this month was Ruben Amorim’s last game in charge of Manchester United. The Portuguese was sacked just a couple of days later.
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Darren Fletcher oversaw the draw at Burnley and the FA Cup exit at the hands of Brighton over the weekend, and Manchester United are set to appoint Michael Carrick as caretaker manager for the rest of the season.
The former England midfielder is keen to bring in a couple of his trusted lieutenants at Old Trafford, which is set to pave the way for a Leeds cult hero to join Manchester United.
Carrick wants ex-Leeds United defender Jonathan Woodgate by his side
Woodgate made 140 appearances for Leeds during his time at Elland Road and was considered one of the best centre-backs of his generation.
Jonathan Woodgate’s appearances, goals, and assists for Leeds United
Appearances
Goals
Assists
The 45-year-old was Carrick’s assistant manager at Middlesbrough, and the duo formed a close bond during their time together on Teesside.
With the former midfielder set to return to Manchester United as their interim boss, he is pushing to take Woodgate with him to Old Trafford.
According to journalist Ben Jacobs, he is in talks with Manchester United and is trying to convince the Old Trafford hierarchy to let him have Woodgate by his side as his assistant.
Fletcher will also join Carrick’s coaching staff at Old Trafford, and Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney has expressed an interest in working under his former teammate.
However, all the controversy will be around the potential arrival of Woodgate, given the heated rivalry between Leeds and Manchester United.
An ex-Leeds star is already in the club hierarchy
Leeds fans must be enjoying the sight of Manchester United supporters being wary about having an ex-White join the club’s coaching staff.
However, former Leeds man Jason Wilcox is the director of football at Old Trafford and is calling the shots in the football department at the Premier League giants.
He played a big role in Amorim’s ouster, as it was a meeting with Wilcox which led to the former Manchester United manager losing his head and attacking the hierarchy in the subsequent press conferences.
The potential arrival of Woodgate to this volatile situation is unlikely to convince the fans that Manchester United are going in the right direction.
There is no reason to think that the former Leeds defender will be anything less than a professional if he gets the chance to become Carrick’s assistant at Old Trafford.
However, Leeds fans can laugh at the whole situation at Old Trafford.