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Ashley Young Warns Manchester United Against Signing Antonio Conte - 'Going To Be a Disaster'
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- Ashley Young Warns Manchester United Against Signing Antonio Conte - 'Going To Be a Disaster'
Manchester United have been warned by Ashley Young that Antonio Conte's tough approach may be a disaster at Old Trafford.
Conte has become a name to be discussed in the United managerial situation as Michael Carrick is under the spotlight. Young, who served Conte at Inter Milan during their Serie A title-winning season in 2020-21, thinks the United team might not be able to cope with Conte's high-pressure style.
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Rumors of Conte becoming Manchester United's next manager have flared up after Michael Carrick's side lost 4-1 at Como.
Young, speaking on The Overlap Daily, referred to United's running data and wondered if the players would be ready to run for Conte.
"If they're not going to run and Antonio Conte goes in there, it's going to be a disaster, I think," Young said.
Ashley Young Reveals Conte's Demanding Training Methods
Young has first-hand experience of Conte's style of football. The former England international said a system of constant running, training sessions and long tactical discussions could be mentally exhausting for players.
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The former Manchester United star said, "Speak to a lot of Tottenham players — and I had spoken to Chelsea players before I went to Inter Milan and was like, 'So what's he like?' — and they were like, 'You're gonna run a lot, you'll be fitter than you've ever been.'"
He said the physical side of things kept him fit, but that not all of Conte's methods were fun.
Antonio Conte looks on during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and Udinese Calcio at Diego Maradona Stadium on May 24, 2026 in Napoli, Italy. (Photo by Matteo Ciambelli/DeFodi Images/DeFodi via Getty Images)
"The training sessions were a lot of 11 v 11, at times a little bit boring," Young added.
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The former Manchester United player also remembered the meetings that could last for hours after a loss, where Conte would analyse everything in minute detail.
Young added, "Meetings were long. When I say long, I'm talking, if we lost the game, we could go in and do the meeting after the game and it'd stop literally everything. And you could be in there for three, four hours."
Why Young Believes Conte Could Struggle at Old Trafford
Young's worries are not limited to the players. He thinks Conte's no-nonsense approach could clash with the club's executives and owners, which could limit his tenure.
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"He tries to test mentally – but the board as well, and the owners, and I think that people get annoyed with him," Young said.
Conte has a history of success, having won league championships in England and Italy. He also guided Inter to their first Serie A championship in 11 years, with Young playing a part in that successful campaign.
Young claims Conte would need a team that would be ready to accept his high standards. If that's not the case, the former defender is worried that the hire could be a bad deal for United, not a good one.
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This story was originally published by Athlon on Oct 22, 2026, where it first appeared in the Soccer section. Add Athlon as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
