Kazakh Elena Rybakina, ranked first in the world, qualified for the semi-finals of the Ningbo Open Tennis Championship, after her victory, on Friday, over Poland’s Katarzyna Kawa in two sets to one.
Rybakina continued to advance in the tournament, going beyond the quarter-finals, after the results of the rounds were 6/1, 3/6, and 6/1, in favor of the Kazakh player, who is looking to compensate for her early exit from the round of 64 of the China Open Tennis Championship, at the beginning of this month.
Rybakina will play with Russian Diana Schneider, ranked sixth in the world, in the semi-finals.
In another match, Czech Marie Bouzkova qualified for the semi-finals, after defeating her compatriot Sarah Belek, 6/3, 6/4, in the quarter-finals of the competition.
In the semi-finals, the Czech player will meet Canadian Leila Annie Fernandez, who defeated Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova, with a score of 4/6, 6/2, and 6/1.
For her part, Russian Diana Schneider gave a high-level performance to defeat American Iva Jovic with a score of 6/3, 4/6, and 6/1 in a match that lasted two hours and 11 minutes, to advance to the semi-finals.
With this victory, Schneider took revenge for her loss to Jovic in the first confrontation that took place between them this year in the Dubai Championship.
By defeating the American player, Schneider (22 years old) reached the semi-finals for the fourth time this year, as she had previously lost in this round during the Adelaide International, French Open (Roland Garros), and Washington tournaments.
Manchester United recorded its worst start in the league since 1986, in addition to its negative results in the Champions League; After suffering a harsh 4-4 defeat against Italian Como in the third round of the Champions League, and after being eliminated from the League Cup in the first round last month, the team became closer to the relegation places in the English Premier League than to the top four, following a 1-1 draw on Sunday against Leeds United. Which increased the pressure on technical director Michael Carrick. The humiliating loss to Como extended Manchester United's series of matches without a win in all competitions to 7 matches.
It is noteworthy that Manchester United sacked a technical director in each of the past two seasons: Erik Ten Hag in October 2024, followed by Ruben Amorim in January 2026. In light of the continuing disappointing results, and with Carrick - who led the team to qualify for the Champions League as interim coach last season - struggling to prove his competence for the position in the long term, the question now is: Who are the most prominent candidates to succeed the old-fashioned coach? Age 45 years? Below is a list of technical managers who may be of interest to Manchester United, with an assessment of the chances of any of them assuming this task, which is considered one of the largest and most difficult tasks in the world of football, according to Mark Ogden on the ESPN website.
Eddie Howe (currently unemployed)
Strengths
The 48-year-old coach is taking a break from coaching after his departure from Newcastle United last August, following a career that lasted about 5 years. During his time at St. James' Park, Howe succeeded in saving the club from relegation, then led the team to qualify for the Champions League on two occasions, and also ended a 70-year wait for a local title by winning the League Cup in 2025.
Howe is a proven manager in the Premier League, thanks to his successful coaching record with both Newcastle and Bournemouth. He has an excellent ability to build teams and possesses high tactical intelligence. His prowess was demonstrated in changing the careers of players such as Joelinton and Dan Byrne at Newcastle. This is something that may attract Manchester United, which includes many players whose performance has not yet lived up to their true potential. Another important advantage of Eddie Howe is that he is available to sign him immediately.
Cons
Eddie Howe can establish stability and stability in any team he coaches. But does he have that “exceptional touch” that a club the size of Manchester United requires? This question may seem harsh for a manager whose competence is beyond doubt, but Manchester United needs a manager capable of improving the club as a whole, and its fan base as well. Howe's calm and collected personality may be exactly what the club needs, or perhaps the last thing it needs at the moment! Perhaps this strange contradiction is the reason behind the predicament that Manchester United is currently experiencing. He needs the elements of stability, calm and direction that Howe will bring, but at the same time he needs a leadership figure who will be the focus of a club that has lost its compass. Howe may succeed in laying the right foundations, but Manchester United needs more than that. Signing Howe would be a logical move, but it may not be enough for Manchester United's ambitions.
Antonio Conte (currently available)
Pros
Since Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement in 2013, Manchester United has signed seven technical managers, of whom only one - Jose Mourinho - had previously won the English Premier League title, or even competed for it, before coming to Old Trafford. Thanks to winning the title with Chelsea in the 2016-2017 season, Conte joins the category of coaches who have proven their ability to win championships and titles. The 57-year-old coach also succeeded in winning the Italian League title with Juventus, Inter Milan and Napoli, in addition to local cup titles in both Italy and England. So, if Manchester United are looking for a coach with a proven track record, Conte stands out as an option with a string of success.
Furthermore, Conte is known for his ability to make an immediate impact at the clubs he coaches; He won the title in his first season with both Chelsea and Napoli, and also made a strong start with Tottenham. Therefore, signing Conte may represent a quick positive shock that pushes Manchester United players towards tangible and immediate improvement. Like Howe, Conte is available for signing following his departure from Napoli in the summer.
Cons
Conte's problem is that there are many negatives; In fact, many believe that it outweighs the positives... The former Italian national team coach is known for his clashes with his players, as well as with members of the board of directors, and most of his previous coaching experiences ended in severe disagreements. If Carrick leaves, Manchester United may want to sign someone capable of imposing toughness on a squad suffering from a decline in performance. Of course, Conte will do that, but his very demanding style may negatively affect a group of players who have rarely shown mental toughness. Which means that a bad situation may get worse.
Since his departure from Juventus to coach the Italian national team in 2014, Conte has coached 4 clubs, and did not continue in any of them for more than two years. So if Manchester United are looking for a long-term solution, Conte is not the right choice. Conte's time at Manchester United may witness a lot of excitement and intensity, but his confrontational style makes it difficult for this experience to succeed.
Fabian Hortzeller (Brighton) Positives
The 33-year-old has built an impressive, young team at Brighton that is now capable of challenging for the Premier League title, and perhaps repeating Leicester City's surprise achievement in 2016. Hortzeller - who became the youngest manager in Premier League history when he arrived from St Pauli in 2024 at the age of 31 - has benefited from the quality of Brighton's famous recruitment department. But it was his coaching prowess and tactics that developed the team, turning Brighton into a team with high energy, a fierce attacking style, and great confidence. Last month's 3-0 victory over Arsenal - one of the title contenders - demonstrated the team's ability to compete with the big boys. If Manchester United is looking for efficiency and a strong personality, then Horzeler's active presence on the touchline is an essential part of his personal makeup and the style of the Brighton team's performance. His frank criticism of Mikel Arteta's tactics with Arsenal last season revealed his willingness to confront top coaches.
Cons
Given that he signed a new contract with Brighton last May that extends for 3 years, Manchester United will find itself required to pay huge financial compensation to obtain Hortzeller’s services. This may take him out of the candidate pool in light of the financial restrictions imposed by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, co-owner of the club. Questions are also raised about Hortzeller's experience and the extent of his readiness to take on a responsibility of the size of coaching Manchester United, especially since the club had previously embarked on a similar adventure two years ago by signing Amorim (who was 39 years old at the time), an experience that ended in miserable failure.
Hortzeller's high-pressing philosophy is unlikely to succeed with Manchester United's squad, which is the second-oldest squad in the English Premier League. His harsh personality may also lead to clashes with sporting director Jason Wilcox, not to mention the possibility of disagreements with the veteran players on the team. It may be the right manager at the wrong time, but if Manchester United want to adopt a bold and exciting approach, Hortzeller could be the perfect choice.
Julian Nagelsmann (currently available)
Pros
Nagelsmann is 39 years old and is currently available for work. He is seeking to prove his abilities after two unsuccessful experiences with the German national team and Bayern Munich. Nagelsmann had established himself as one of the most prominent emerging coaches in Europe thanks to his successes with Hoffenheim and Leipzig, before moving to coach Bayern Munich in 2021, when he was only thirty-three years old. Nagelsmann is known as a deep tactical thinker and a coach who pays meticulous attention to detail. Therefore, he can give Manchester United a great deal of cohesion and clarity that it currently lacks.
Cons
Nagelsmann is available because his last two experiences were not crowned with success, even though they were in two senior positions comparable in size to the position of coach at Manchester United. Therefore, a question arises as to whether he possesses the necessary qualifications to coach at the highest levels, or whether his abilities are more suitable for clubs with limited budgets and lower ambitions. His time with Bayern Munich ended badly amid reports of disputes with prominent players, and a similar scenario was repeated this summer following the German national team's exit from the World Cup.
Although Nagelsmann is still young enough to recover, learn from his recent experiences, and achieve success again, Manchester United may not represent the ideal environment for a coach seeking to restore his career. The move entails a great risk for both parties, Nagelsmann and Manchester United, which makes its success unlikely.
Thomas Tuchel (England national team)
Pros
Tuchel is a big name in the world of coaching, and he possesses the personality and self-confidence that qualifies him to take on the task of coaching Manchester United without any feeling of fear or hesitation. He previously won local titles in France and Germany with Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich, and also led Chelsea to win the Champions League in 2021. Thus, Tuchel meets all the criteria that Manchester United is looking for. If the club wants to sign a coach with a winning record and a personality to match his achievements, Tuchel - who interviewed for the position in 2024 - represents the ideal choice.
Cons
There are many negatives; First, Tuchel currently holds the position of coach of the England national team, and he extended his contract earlier this year, to remain in his position until the end of the 2028 European Nations Cup, which makes contracting with the 53-year-old coach almost impossible. Even if Tuchel separates from the English Football Association in the coming months, his reputation for clashes with players and club owners makes him a high-risk option for Manchester United. When Tuchel held talks with Manchester United at the end of the 2023-2024 season, the two parties were close to reaching an agreement before the negotiations collapsed. So it seems unlikely that the two sides will return to the negotiating table expecting a different outcome this time. If available, Tuchel would be an ideal option for Manchester United, despite the negatives associated with him. But as long as he holds the position of coach of the England national team, there is no chance of him moving to Old Trafford.
Michael Carrick, the coach of Manchester United, competing in the English Premier League, strongly defended his leadership on Friday, and acknowledged his responsibility for the deterioration of the club’s performance, stressing that he is still convinced of his ability to turn the team’s situation around.
Carrick is under increasing pressure after missing victories in seven matches in all competitions, following a heavy 4-1 defeat against Italian Como, on Wednesday, in the Champions League. This placed him in 20th place in the standings with three points.
Before answering questions in the press conference prior to facing Bournemouth in the league on Sunday, Carrick made an emotional opening statement, in which he acknowledged the frustration of the fans and the extent of the challenge he faces.
He said: “The last period has not been good. I think this is quite clear. So; I completely accept what we are going through at the moment. We had relatively successful five months (last season), during which time I was happy with a lot of the things I was seeing and what we were doing as a team. We haven't performed at the desired level recently. “We went through a period where we were not satisfied at all.”
Carrick said the defeat to Cuomo was very painful.
He continued: “Wednesday night was bad. It was a bad night for many reasons. The defeat was very painful. Of course seeing us play like this hurt me. “As I said after the match, it was really unacceptable.”
The defeat led to mounting pressure on Carrick after captain Bruno Fernandes appeared to question Manchester United's tactical approach in his post-match comments.
When asked whether public criticism from players indicated divisions within the dressing room, Carrick dismissed any suggestion that the team was divided.
He also avoided answering questions regarding Fernandes' future as captain, and refused to reveal whether he had held talks with the Portuguese midfielder following the defeat.
Instead, he stressed that his priority is to restore the identity that has been missing from the team in the past few weeks.
Carrick said: “My responsibility is to present a team on the field that represents this club, represents the fans, and makes them proud of it thanks to the identity that we display. We have moved away from that recently in some matches, and I am fully aware of that and I will certainly work to address the matter.”
Carrick singled out Manchester United fans after many of them traveled to Como to witness the biggest defeat of his reign.
“The fans are a big part of this club,” he said. They put in the effort and put in the time and money; “So for them to feel what we all felt on Wednesday was a difficult moment.”
Despite growing speculation about his future, Carrick spoke in a defiant tone, saying he remained confident United would regain the energy and cohesion that characterized the team's performance last season.
Carrick took over in January 2026 following the sacking of Ruben Amorim, and has overseen a remarkable turnaround; He led United to finish the season in third place and qualify for the Champions League.
“For them (the fans) to feel what they felt during the first five months of the year... is something we need to get back to,” Carrick said. And we will return to it. “I completely believe that.”
Antonio Conte, the former coach of Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea, is among the names linked to coaching United, although the 57-year-old Italian said on Friday that he is not in “advanced” negotiations with any club.
Carrick acknowledged that Manchester United had lost its way, but said the responsibility rested entirely with him.
Carrick concluded his opening remarks by saying that it was his duty to get the club back on the right track.
Manchester United occupies 13th place in the league with seven points, while Bournemouth is one point behind it in 15th place, and on Thursday it achieved a major victory over the Italian AC Milan with three goals for the Europa League.
