Gary Neville believes Mauricio Pochettino would take the Manchester United job in a heartbeat despite the fact he may not admit it publicly since he is already in charge at Paris Saint-Germain.
I think it will be extremely difficult to get Pochettino in now, midway through the season, with his aims to win the Champions League this season with PSG. If he doesn’t achieve that, it’s always likely that the Ligue 1 outfit will look elsewhere like they did to Thomas Tuchel when he failed to deliver the holy grail.
United’s admiration for Pochettino has been documented ever since the days of Jose Mourinho, but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer came in on an interim basis that those plans went into the fire. Now the board could try settle for what they always wanted and that likely meams waiting until the end of the season.
However, Neville reckons Pochettino would take the job in the morning, saying (via Sky Sports):
“I think Mauricio Pochettino – although he’d never say it – he’d leave to come to Man Utd on a five-year deal tomorrow. He’d look at that group of players, he’d look at the club and he’d realise he’d probably be able to achieve more than he wants at Man Utd in terms of a project.
“At PSG you are on season by season. You’ve got to win the Champions League or you’re out type of model. I don’t think that suits Pochettino.
“I think he would absolutely come to Man Utd on a five-year deal, with backing behind him. How he’d fit in with the current coaches who are still there and left, I’m not sure.
“Manchester United have to make sure they get the next one right. If that means being patient for six months to wait for managers to become available at the end of the season.”
Robbie Keane doesn’t feel as strongly as Neville, though.
🗣 "Why would Mauricio Pochettino leave Paris Saint-Germain at this moment in time?
Robbie Keane does not feel Mauricio Pochettino would swap PSG for Manchester United… pic.twitter.com/pbV087R8Oe
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) November 21, 2021
Footage courtesy of Sky Sports.
According to a Sky Sports report, Pochettino is number one choice to take over next summer.
SN’s verdict on appointing Pochettino:
The former Tottenham boss would be my preferred choice.
But does that mean Michael Carrick for the remainder of the season?
Pochettino would need to become more reckless at United, in terms of the domestic cup competitions, but he did an almighty job at Spurs as well as Southampton and is Premier League proven.
It’s a massive improvement from talking about Brendan Rodgers rumours!
