Which Premier League Managers will face the Most Pressure in 25/26?
- Christian Paris
- Aug 13
- 7 min read
The long-anticipated return of the Premier League is almost upon us after what has felt like an age to get to this point. Predictions, hopes and expectations will intensify in the build-up to the opener when Liverpool kick off their defence against Bournemouth at Anfield on Friday night.
Some of the major themes and stories heading into the 2025/26 season have already taken flight. How will Ruben Amorim fare in his first full season at Old Trafford, Thomas Frank is set to take the stage with Tottenham, whilst the season looks set for a wide-open title scrap.
Familiar names have returned to the topflight, Burnley & Leeds United have both made appearances with more regularity in recent years whilst Sunderland’s dramatic Championship playoff win last campaign secured a return to the Premier League for the first time in eight years.
Can one of those three sides break the trend and retain their place? So many questions soon to be answered, though we can base informed opinions from last season.
There will be a select few managers who will be keen to create some breathing space in the hot seat. The real discussion is who of the 20 managers will feel under the most pressure to perform, who needs to deliver and what are the potential consequences.
Here are the three (or more) Premier League head coaches that should be cautiously looking over their shoulder in 25/26.
Mikel Arteta
A sixth full campaign at the Emirates for Mikel Arteta will define how his tenure in the dugout will be remembered after the 2025/26 campaign.
Finishing runner-up in the Premier League for the third successive season saw slight regression in performance levels and consistency, whilst issues that required addressing became as transparent as ever.
A clear struggle to create chances and the lack of a killer in the final third cost Arsenal. An over-reliance on set-pieces caught up with the Gunners as the season waned, whilst Arteta struggled to find solutions.
In fairness, the Spaniard had to work his way around significant injuries to key starters throughout 24/25 in Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz, their presence would have surely alleviated some of those problems.
Arsenal did retain being the best defensive unit in the Premier League, that despite Gabriel missing the final few months of the campaign. David Raya established himself in between the sticks, whilst Jurrien Timber consistently got to show his quality.
Arteta has built a terrific foundation, Declan Rice particularly in the second half of the season assumed great responsibility from midfield, those Champions League knockout performances spring to mind, though the Gunners were seemingly always left lacking.
Arsenal have made great strides under Arteta, but ultimately the Gunners have nothing to show for it apart from winning the FA Cup at the end of his first five months in charge in 2020.
A solid run to the Champions League semi-finals was encouraging, though losing out convincingly to eventual Carabao Cup winners Newcastle United in the semi-finals was a worrying sign.
Arteta has, to this point, struggled to get his side over the line. In each of his five and a half seasons at the club the pressure has ramped up bit by bit, not more so than it is about to be this season - it is time to deliver.
The Gunners have strengthened this summer like their rivals. Viktor Gyokeres is the big move, aimed at addressing the issues in front of goal, whilst adding greater depth in forward areas with Noni Madueke, and in midfield with Martin Zubimendi and Christian Norgaard.
It has left many questioning if it will be enough to cross the finish line in first at last. Though the time for building is over for Arteta. It is now or never.
Ruben Amorim
Pressure at Man United goes hand in hand does it not? Amorim has rapidly found that out in his first nine months at Old Trafford, and, it has been rocky to say the least.
The turbulence has been turned up to 1,000 ever since the Portuguese came through the door. Controversies, struggle and dismay placed a dark cloud over Old Trafford, with the Red Devils succumbing to a club record-low 15th place finish in the Premier League last season.
A recurring theme crept out once more with a giant that has fallen in the 12 years without Sir Alex Ferguson, where the issues were rooted off the pitch rather than on it.
Amorim hurriedly uncovered the toxicity that remained at the club and sought to stamp it out for good. Marcus Rashford’s fairytale came to a troubled conclusion this summer, departing for Barcelona, whilst Alejandro Garnacho has been deemed surplus to requirements.
The 40-year-old has been adamantly backed by INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who insisted Amorim was the right man for the job despite it all going wrong last season.
A disastrous campaign broke numerous records all in the wrong direction, though a full pre-season and the hopes of a productive summer transfer window has helped to provide the reset the club has needed for over a decade.
United’s executive team have needed to be busy this summer and have reinforced and then some. A full restructuring of a laboured frontline, with Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and the latest arrival of Benjamin Sesko will provide major optimism of a new-look United, but issues still remain.
It is likely the spending will not stop at £195m. Initial talks have taken place for a difficult deal to bring Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba to the club, which would address the very glaring problems Amorim still faces with his midfield setup.
An area in which United have continued to struggle meanwhile has been with outgoings, with Rashford the only senior departure, that being on loan. Rasmus Hojlund and Garnacho have been touted for moves away, whilst they may be required to bring in extra funds.
The existing business meanwhile will inevitably heap the pressure on Amorim to show an upward trajectory on from last season. They surely cannot get worse.
A testing start to the Premier League may be viewed as unfavourable under the circumstances, but it may be what Amorim’s United will need to evaluate their level. It could be the dawn of a new beginning, or a humbling reality.
Frank, Guardiola, Slot?
This is being completely honest. I am absolutely torn on this last pick and not entirely convinced by any of the potential choices.
All three of the names above could be under pressure for different reasons, but let’s start with Frank whose stellar time at Brentford after almost seven years there merited a move to North London.
Tottenham and Daniel Levy were faced with a tricky predicament after Ange Postecoglou led Spurs to their first title since the club won the League Cup in 2009, a Europa League no less, though heavily to the detriment of their league form, finishing astonishingly fourth from bottom.
A decision was made, eventually, to bring the Dane in who has a history of overperforming. Securing Brentford’s return to the English topflight in 74 years in 2021, remaining in the Premier League ever since including two top ten finishes, though Tottenham requires a jump from Frank.
Although unfair, Frank will take on the expectations following on from last season. The expectation to return Spurs to the top six, to be competitive, on all fronts.
Not to mention the additional weight of the Champions League, a first for Frank to deal with. The extra pressure to compete with the top sides in England and in Europe, it will be fascinating to see how the Dane copes.
Pep Guardiola meanwhile is an intriguing matter ahead of 25/26. Post what was by far his most challenging season in England, he still managed to steer the Citizens to third last campaign.
Despite that, there were periods where Manchester City were stumbling like we have not seen in what feels like an age. Talks of an ageing midfield, reinforcements needed in the backline, it was chaotic at times.
This upcoming season will be his most testing yet, to see whether he can return City back to the top after almost a decade of dominance, whilst with Liverpool gearing up for a repeat and Arsenal hungry for a title, it may be too steep an obstacle to overcome.
Speaking of Liverpool, this could be viewed a reach, but Arne Slot will face increased scrutiny in the new season.
A stunning title win in his first campaign at Anfield has sparked an equally emphatic summer market for Liverpool and Slot, over £250m spent on bolstering the squad and the consensus is the Reds are clear favourites to repeat.
Bringing in the likes of Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz most notably has certainly given Slot more weapons to utilise, though there are still questions despite strengthening heavily.
The season has not exactly got off to the best start, losing out to Crystal Palace in the Community Shield on Sunday, whilst the Liverpool boss has marked concerns defensively ahead of the Premier League curtain raiser on Friday.
Additions can be expected in central defence by Slot, who currently has just three senior players in that position, Ibrahima Konate and Joe Gomez meanwhile have struggled with injuries in recent seasons.
It raises a potential doubt to Liverpool’s perceived dominance to come. Virgil Van Dijk remains but is now 34, Mohammed Salah is 33, leaving further questions as to how much longer they can both go on for.
Slot meanwhile will need to carry on the momentum from last season. Such an aggressive spend has given the Dutchman his own players but means he will face greater pressure to sustain the brilliance he and Liverpool showed last season.
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