Rene Meulensteen has said he would 'not be a supporter' of Manchester United appointing Antonio Conte, predicting the hotheaded Italian would bring the club 'crashing down really quickly'.
Conte is among the favourites to take over at Old Trafford should Michael Carrick lose his job as head coach amid an eight-match winless streak. Carrick's position is understood to be in serious doubt after Sunday's defeat to Bournemouth at Old Trafford, where goals from Rayan, James Tavernier and Evanilson extended the club's worst-ever start to a Premier League season.
According to The Telegraph, a final decision over Carrick's future has not yet been made, but United's hierarchy will hold crisis talks over the next 24 hours to discuss possible next steps. The uncertainty comes just five months after Carrick was handed the role on a full-time basis, having steered United to a third-placed finish and Champions League qualification last season.
Meulensteen criticises club's decline
'Since Sir Alex Ferguson left, systematically, the whole club has been dismantled of everything that it stood for,' Meulensteen, who served as a coach under Ferguson, told talkSPORT. 'The stability and continuity that Sir Alex Ferguson created with a great professional and winning culture has been replaced by incompetence and inconsistency.'
'That's been shown through all the managers they've had and I think Michael Carrick is number eight.'
The Dutchman also criticised the club's recruitment approach, contrasting it with the strategy during Ferguson's era. 'You look at the recruitment, the players they've brought in over the years… for us, it was a very straightforward discussion: we looked at being or becoming.'
'What I mean by that is we could bring players in that we knew would perform in the Premier League, i.e. Robin van Persie. "Becoming" was more younger players, 23 years and younger, who were a little bit "being" but still had a lot to come to improve as players.'
'But the key, underlining thing was whether they were going to make a difference for us. If that wasn't the case then they weren't good enough, simple as that.'
'I think that's gone out the window because it's been replaced by mediocrity.'
Conte appointment opposed
Meulensteen expressed bewilderment at how quickly United's squad have gone from 'playing with smiles on their faces' to performances like the one against Bournemouth. 'Four or five months ago when Michael Carrick started, seven games, six wins and one draw, including Manchester City and Arsenal,' he said.
'They were playing with energy, intensity, players in the right spots, they played with a smile on their face… where has that gone? How has that derailed so quickly in such a short period of time? I can't put my finger on it.'
Eddie Howe is believed to be the frontrunner to replace Carrick following his departure from Newcastle in the summer. The 48-year-old is reportedly 'open' to the idea of taking over at Old Trafford. Julian Nagelsmann, Fabian Hurzeler and Conte are also among the names linked with the position.
On the prospect of Conte taking charge, Meulensteen said: 'I've seen that name being said and I would not be a supporter of that appointment at all. I think that would maybe get a very short uplift but it would come crashing down really, really quickly knowing the way that Conte goes about his job.'
'I wouldn't be in favour of that. If you asked me any other names, I couldn't tell you, because the problem is not the next manager. Yes, he needs to be a strong personality, a strong character with great, strong views about the way he wants to do things. But every other manager that has been there before has, reading between the lines, said the same thing.'
'The problem is that the ownership has Manchester United in a headlock. That's the problem and they can't get out it.'
Conte's statement and upcoming fixtures
As speculation mounted last week, Conte released a statement stressing he would only join a club if the 'conditions are right'. The 57-year-old has been out of work since reaching an agreement to terminate his contract at Napoli in May.
'Following recent media reports in Italy and abroad, I feel it is appropriate to clarify my position,' Conte said. 'My name has been linked with numerous clubs, but there are currently no negotiations at an advanced stage. Following a wonderful and successful spell in charge of Napoli, I will take the time I need to consider how and when to return to management. It will be a carefully considered decision, one l will make when I believe the conditions are right.'
United return to Premier League action against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in Saturday's lunchtime kick-off. Three days later, they face Roma at home in a Champions League group-stage clash.
