Interim manager Ralf Rangnick is expected to take on an advisory role at the club this summer, with the club currently searching for a permanent successor to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who was sacked after three years in charge last year.
Erik ten Hag, the current Ajax manager, has been heavily linked with a switch to Old Trafford, with club sources confirming to Stretty News that a second round of talks is planned with the Dutchman this week.
Mauricio Pochettino is said to be a popular choice among the players and his Premier League experience could tip the scales his favour, with former Manchester United player Wayne Rooney making his stance very clear. The Derby manager featured on Monday Night Football on Monday evening and endorsed a move for Pochettino, as seen below.
🗣 "If I'm choosing from one of them two, I'd go Pochettino."
Wayne Rooney backs Mauricio Pochettino over Erik ten Hag as Man United's next manager pic.twitter.com/eJc02heD1i
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) April 4, 2022
Footage courtesy of Sky Sports/Football Daily
Read more: Three players Erik ten Hag would love at Manchester United – opinion
“I think Pochettino has done it in the Premier League, he knows the Premier League. He’s brought a lot of young players through at Southampton as well,” he said.
“If I’m choosing between one of them two (Pochettino and Ten Hag), that’s who I’d choose. I’d go with Pochettino and give him time.
“Managers now, they need time to come in and actually put their blueprint on the club, on the team. If you give him time, I think he’ll do well.”
SN’s verdict on the Pochettino/Ten Hag debate…
There are arguments for and against both managers but Pochettino’s Premier League experience with two clubs, to which Wayne Rooney is referring, could prove to tip the scales in his favour.
Ten Hag would, however, be seen as the riskier and perhaps more exciting move. The 52-year-old has been coveted by several European giants over the last couple of years and the possibility of recruiting the next big manager in European football could be an opportunity Manchester United can’t afford to miss out on.
the issue of premier league experience is sometimes over emphasized.The most important thing to identify a coach whose ethos suites the club’s ,get him & give him the necessary support.Mourinho,Pep,Klopp,Mancini,Fergie,Wenger,Conte etc all had no PL experience but did or are still doing well.Even Poch himself had no PL experience when Southampton hired him but he did well there.Ten Hag currently is at the top of his game & if Utd hire him they’d arguably be hiring a manager with an impressive current club record form for the 1st time in the post-Fergie era.