Manchester United extended their winless run to five games in a row across all competitions after the Red Devils succumbed to a 2-0 loss to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League.  

While the manner of defeat was disappointing to say the least, Lisandro Martinez's explosive interviews with Amazon Prime and CBS after the game have taken the headlines by storm. 

The Argentinian defender accepted that the poor performances are not up to United's standard but also criticised the higher-ups of United, like Director of Football Jason Wilcox, over the lack of investment this summer.  

With all the chaos surrounding United, it is symbolic that once again the club are heading to Elland Road to take on Leeds United next in the Premier League, which last season was the game that led to Ruben Amorim's explosive exit from Manchester United.

Every year, especially in October, United are regularly rumoured to be looking for a new manager, and Antonio Conte, ever since he left Chelsea in 2018, has always been linked with the job. 

It almost feels like a rite of passage for any under-pressure manager to have the Italian linked to Manchester United when he is without a club himself.  According to Daniele Longo, Conte "wants" to join United, and he is now in a position where he is ready for a new challenge in the Premier League. 

In his first stint in England, he won the league in his first year with Chelsea before winning the FA Cup in his final year, but was sacked for not finishing in a Champions League place. Conte's next stint was in 2021 with Tottenham Hotspur, where he finished top four in his first year but, in his second year, left in chaotic circumstances. 

Since leaving Napoli after last season, he has been without a club and would be immediately available to join United.

There is no doubting the credentials that Conte has on his managerial CV. He kick-started the Juventus dynasty of the 2010s, winning three league titles in a row, took an ageing Italy side to the brink of reaching the Euros semi-final in 2016, and won the league at Chelsea, Inter Milan and most recently at Napoli in 2025. 

The Italian legend would immediately command the respect of the dressing room, and, given his outspoken personality, he would not join without certain assurances from those hiring him. 

However, given he has not stayed longer than two years in any job since he left Juventus in 2014, it would be reasonable to assume that this would be a short-term "win now" to try to steady the ship in the immediate future. 

Alongside this, when you look at the style of management, it is on the more ruthless side, which some would argue this squad may need, but others would argue is not something the players will adjust well to.

It feels as though it is an appointment that would be banking on instant success to Manchester United.