Pochettino 'still Man United's No 1 choice' if they sack Solskjaer

Mauricio Pochettino ‘still Manchester United’s number one choice’ if they sack Ole Gunnar Solskjaer with the Paris Saint-Germain boss ‘highly rated’ by club legend Sir Alex Ferguson

  • Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is under pressure after Sunday’s 5-0 loss to Liverpool
  • Manchester United will keep the struggling Norwegian boss for now 
  • Mauricio Pochettino has been linked to United several times in recent years
  • The Paris Saint-Germain boss is reportedly ‘still United’s top choice’
  • Pochettino is highly rated by United’s legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson 

Mauricio Pochettino is ‘still Manchester United’s number one choice’ to take the manager’s position should they eventually sack Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. 

The United manager has never been under more pressure following their humiliating 5-0 defeat to Liverpool on Sunday. 

Pochettino has been linked with the job in the past but has been managing Paris Saint-Germain since January.


Mauricio Pochettino (right) is reportedly still Manchester United’s top choice if they decide to sack Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

The Daily Star have reported that United still consider Pochettino to be their top choice despite the fact he already has a top job.  

It’s said that United originally wanted Solskjaer to ‘bridge to the gap’ between Jose Mourinho and Pochettino at Old Trafford.

That was until United’s memorable win over PSG in the Champions League in 2019 helped earn the interim boss the job permanently. 

The United boss will be given more time despite Sunday’s embarrassing defeat, with the Daily Star stating that this will give them more chance to gauge the availability of Pochettino – someone who is highly rated by Sir Alex Ferguson.    

Sportsmail previously reported that United — who gave Solskjaer a new three-year contract over the summer — were planning to review the 48-year-old’s position in December.

Solskjaer’s position has never been under more scrutiny after Sunday’s 5-0 loss to Liverpool

Sir Alex Ferguson is a big fan of Pochettino who previously managed Tottenham

The galling surrender at Old Trafford has, however, accelerated that process. Talks between co-chairman Joel Glazer, Ed Woodward and managing director Richard Arnold took place on Monday.

United had not been prepared for such a dire run of results, with Solskjaer’s side losing five of their last nine games.

The club’s board has so far resisted the calls for change, with the Norwegian expected to remain in charge at Spurs. Ferguson and former chairman Martin Edwards visited Carrington on Tuesday afternoon, with United insisting the pair were attending a pre-planned commitment.

It’s reported United planned to pursue Pochettino before giving Solskjaer the permanent job after their famous win over PSG

Yet Solskjaer now faces three huge games — Tottenham, a Champions League clash at Atalanta and then the derby against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City — that look likely to determine his prospects.

Some players have privately raised concern over the tempo of sessions and believe they are being consistently outsmarted tactically by opponents.

Glazer, based in Florida, has been watching developments with interest but senior United sources were adamant last night that no approaches for potential successors had been made after Antonio Conte, the former Chelsea boss, expressed an interest in a move.

Former Liverpool and current Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers, along with Ajax’s Erik ten Hag have also been linked to the role should it become available. 

Pochettino is one of several names that have been linked with the United job in recent days




Share this article


Source: Read Full Article