Some Manchester United players have privately conceded the club made a huge mistake in not bringing in Antonio Conte as their manager.
United have lurched into another crisis under interim manager Ralf Rangnick, who is facing a divided dressing room at the club with his own methods and tactics being questioned, according to reports.
Once source told The Sun there are fears Rangnick’s reign will be a ‘disaster’, with players demoralised amid concerns that some players in the team will be selected for the first-team regardless of their recent displays.
Rangnick has taken the reins until the end of the campaign when he is expected to take up a consultancy role at Old Trafford.
But behind the scenes, the German coach is said to have developed a reputation for being ‘aloof and overconfident’ with players regretting the missed chance to bring in Conte.
Conte started the season as a free agent after leaving Inter in the summer and was at one point considered the favourite to become new United manager when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s position became untenable.
Conte ‘loved’ the idea of taking over at the club but no official offer was made with United viewing him as a combative figure who would not serve as a long-term solution.
After the sacking of Nuno Espirito Santo, Tottenham moved quickly with Conte unveiled as their new manager on 2 November. Three weeks later, the Red devils parted company with Solskjaer.
With United stars ruing the missed chance, they also expect Paris Saint-Germain head coach Mauricio Pochettino to arrive in the summer.
