Manchester United warned hiring Conte could repeat swift Chelsea collapse

Man Utd have been warned that appointing Antonio Conte could repeat the rapid collapse he suffered at Chelsea, with Italian journalist Marco Messino suggesting the former Napoli boss already wants the Old Trafford job as the Red Devils struggle for points after a poor start to the Premier League campaign.

Conte’s recent exit and past glories

Antonio Conte left Serie A giants Napoli at the end of last season, ending his tenure with the club. He previously managed Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur, delivering a Premier League title and an FA Cup win at the former. The Italian’s potential return to management has been linked to a shake‑up at Manchester United.

Carrick’s precarious start

Current head coach Michael Carrick’s side have collected only five points from their opening five Premier League games and have already exited the Carabao Cup. The club therefore needs a turnaround after the international break to avoid further decline. Fabrizio Romano United are sending signals of confidence in Carrick, believing the squad is fully behind him.

Romano added that United have suffered three defeats, two draws and just two wins – at home to Ipswich and Sabah – in the last seven matches, a record he deems insufficient to stay safe.

Ex‑Chelsea star Jason Cundy warned Chelsea about appointing Conte, recalling that “things went south very quickly” during his stint at Stamford Bridge. “He gets results quickly, he is a fiery Italian and he will fall out and did fall out [at Chelsea],” Cundy said. “He did win the Premier League, did win the FA Cup. If Jose Mourinho is a 10/10 in terms of losing your head, Antonio Conte comes in at about a seven or a six. He’s not quite on the same level, but it will all fall apart at the seams eventually.”

Romano also noted that names such as Conte and Julian Nagelsmann – the latter available after leaving Germany – are circulating, but United persist with Carrick, hoping to reverse the trend. The club’s next challenge is a home match against Tottenham, a test that could determine whether the current plan holds.