But United can’t seem to get out of a tricky cycle that has seen them plough through managers since the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson, with David Moyes, Louis Van Gaal, Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solksjaer and Ralf Rangnick all coming and going, while there are now questions being asked of Erik ten Hag.

 

IMAGO/Nigel Keene

The Glazers often shoulder blame, but Ferguson did manage to win titles under their ownerships over a long period, and there are clubs with questionable owners who win titles elsewhere. So, could Guardiola sort out the Old Trafford mess if he was – in an alternative world – appointed as the club’s head coach?

Gary Neville posed the question recently on the Stick To Football podcast, and Roy Keane answered: “I’d go yeah. I think he’d see through all that and would move people on. Obviously, he has got the structure right at City, but I think Pep has the personality.

“I think he’s a great manager. We’ve always argued that he’s had great players to work with, but that brings its own challenges. Their style of play and the goals… the demands he puts on people and the demands he puts on himself.” Arsenal legend Ian Wright also gave his thoughts, adding: “Players get better… That’s what you’re not seeing at United at the minute. Players get better under Pep and you’d have to feel he’d probably do the same at United.”