Man Utd respond to Mauricio Pochettino links with new appointment date now likely
Manchester United sack Ole Gunnar after Watford defeat
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Manchester United are adamant they’re still looking for an interim boss amid links to Mauricio Pochettino. The Red Devils sacked Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on Sunday, less than 24 hours after their 4-1 drubbing at the hands of Watford. And it seems like they’re now going to target the Argentine at the end of the campaign instead.
In the aftermath of United’s decision to sack Solskjaer, the club confirmed they wanted an interim boss to take the reins.
But Pochettino has emerged as their No 1 target to rule Old Trafford permanently, despite his current commitment to Paris Saint-Germain.
United have admired the Argentine for a number of years, ever since his time at Southampton.
Yet while links to Pochettino have been intensifying, Express Sport has been told the Red Devils still only want an interim for the time being.
Therefore, it seems far likelier that United will go for Pochettino at the end of the season instead.
The 49-year-old is interested in taking the job.
But, for now, he’s focused on helping PSG achieve Ligue 1 and Champions League glory.
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What works in United’s favour is Pochettino’s personal situation, with his family living in England instead of France.
Yet whether the move materialises remains to be seen.
If United are successful in bringing him to Old Trafford, it will have been a deal years in the making.
They contemplated hiring him in 2016, as a replacement for Louis van Gaal following the Dutchman’s departure.
But with Jose Mourinho available, the Red Devils decided to go for the former Chelsea boss instead.
When Mourinho lost his job in December 2018, United appointed Solskjaer temporarily so they could go after Pochettino at the end of that season.
Yet when Solskjaer did well, Ed Woodward and the Glazers decided to give him the keys to the club permanently.
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Pochettino will be in England tonight when Manchester City lock horns with PSG in the Champions League.
But talks with United aren’t expected to take place given the Red Devils’ focus is merely on an interim candidate.
Former Tottenham star Jamie O’Hara thinks Pochettino would be a good option for United.
Yet he’s questioned why the 49-year-old would want to move to the Red Devils at the current moment in time.
“It was the worst performance I’ve ever seen from Manchester United,” he said after the defeat to Watford.
“We’re all sitting there saying Ole has to go but when it happens, we’re thinking: ‘Who’s going to come in?’
“Antonio Conte was the perfect manager and they missed a trick with him.
“He was waiting for the Man United job and he’d have taken it if he was asked, but he wasn’t asked, so he took the Spurs job now, now we have him and I think he’s going to be a success.
“But, talking about Pochettino, I think he’s the perfect manager for Manchester United – but why would he leave PSG? He’s got Mbappe and Messi in his team!
“If Manchester United want Pochettino, they can’t wait until the end of the season to see what happens, they need him now!
“You can’t wait until the summer to get a manager. What, are you writing off the 26 games you’ve got left? Come on, you’re Manchester United!
“He’d be perfect to come in now. Get him out of PSG!”
He added: “I look at the board at Manchester United and think, do they have a plan? Do they have a plan on how they want to take this club forward?
“Solskjaer should have been sacked two months ago, that decision came too late, and now they’ve left themselves in a position where everyone’s settled in their clubs now.
“If they tried for Pochettino in the summer they’d get him out, he would have left, but now he wouldn’t swap PSG for Man United.
“he’s guaranteed a title at PSG, they’re walking away with the league already.
“And as if he’s going to leave a squad with Mbappe and Messi mid-season and have Fred and McTominay!”
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