Manchester United could still be title contenders this season if they replace Ole Gunnar Solskjaer with Antonio Conte now, according to Sky Sports reporter Michael Bridge.
Conte has been out of work since May after leaving Inter Milan at the end of last season, but a return to the dugout may not be far away.
What's the latest news involving Antonio Conte?
The 52-year-old has been linked with the manager's job at Old Trafford, and he is reportedly interested in the role.
His chances of being placed in charge may have increased after United's latest performance under Solskjaer. The Red Devils were taken apart on Sunday afternoon by Liverpool, losing 5-0 to their rivals after a shambolic display in front of their home fans.
That result leaves United eight points behind league leaders Chelsea, having already dropped 13 points this term.
What has Bridge said about Conte?
Bridge was very impressed with Conte when he last coached in the Premier League with Chelsea. The Italian won the Premier League and FA Cup during his two-year stay in England.
Bridge has now claimed that he would be tempted to bet on United winning the league this season if Conte was brought in to take over from Solskjaer immediately.
He told GIVEMESPORT: “If you sacked Solskjaer now and put Conte in, I’d probably have a fiver each way on a United title win. I rate Conte that highly, I’m obsessed with him. I think he’s just so good. It wasn’t even the best Chelsea side in the world he got to 93 points with. He had Victor Moses right wing-back.”
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Could Conte win the league with Man United this season?
It would be a tall order for the former Juventus midfielder.
At the moment, United's players look bereft of confidence, and it would not be easy for him to turn things around straight away.
All of Conte's previous five title wins have come when he has been the manager at the start of the season, and has been able to implement his ideas during pre-season. Trying to get a team back on track during a campaign would be a new challenge for him.
Still, he is a serial winner, with a 59% win rate as a manager, and it could be argued that the squad he would be inheriting at Old Trafford is stronger than the Chelsea one he guided to Premier League glory four years ago.
Therefore, if United act quickly and bring him in, it would be foolish to write Conte off completely, given what he has achieved over the past decade.
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