Paris Saint-Germain wanted Man Utd to appoint Pochettino over Ten Hag – report

Manchester United’s appointment of Erik ten Hag has gone down well with supporters, with the 53-year-old representing a new age of progressive coaches.

Ten Hag’s attacking style, showcased on several occasions with his Ajax side in the Champions League, has already won fans over and the Old Trafford faithful are desperate for him to replicate that at Old Trafford.

United have held a longstanding interest in Mauricio Pochettino, who was first courted by Manchester United in 2019 when he was sacked by Tottenham.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was fairly secure in his position at the time so a move never materialised. When the Norwegian was let go late last year, the Argentinian swiftly emerged as the favourite to replace him.

It didn’t quite work out that way and instead, United opted to sign Ten Hag, who has gained almost unanimous support already from the club’s supporters.

Read more: Man Utd add Inter defender to list of summer targets

Now, it has been revealed that Paris Saint-Germain were hoping that United would appoint Pochettino over the Dutchman.

That’s according to The Telegraph, who add that should United have done so, the Paris club would be free from their obligation of paying out his contract in the event of a dismissal. Following a poor 18 months in the French capital, Pochettino is now believed to be on verge of leaving.

Furthermore, as per the report, Pochettino is claimed to have been United’s first choice when Solskjaer was let go eight months ago.

SN’s verdict…
You’ll struggle to find a United supporter who isn’t happy with the appointment of Ten Hag. Despite United’s miserable 2021/22 season, Ten Hag’s arrival has sparked some optimism.

The former Utrecht boss is on an upwards career trajectory, whilst it can be argued that Pochettino is heading the other way. The four managerial appointments preceding Ten Hag have been disappointing but there are now high expectations at Old Trafford.

Ten Hag signed a three-year deal with an option for a further year, highlighting that he has been trusted to lead the latest major rebuild.

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