Is Pochettino the Right Fit for Manchester United?
Sky Sports News' Kaveh Solhekol is not shy in expressing skepticism about Manchester United's pursuit of Mauricio Pochettino. He suggests that the club might be overlooking better managerial options.
An agreement seems to be in place for Pochettino to take over from Michael Carrick, but Solhekol believes the Argentine wouldn’t even be on the radar for many elite clubs.
"He’s a solid manager, but would he be considered for a top job at Liverpool or Arsenal? What about Bayern Munich or Real Madrid?" Solhekol questioned. "It’s telling that he wasn’t even the choice for Spurs when they last had an opening."
He acknowledges that while Pochettino could bring a positive short-term impact, especially with players responding well to him, he also warns that long-term challenges await him at Old Trafford.
"If you want a manager with a proven record in England, Eddie Howe has a stronger CV. He won a domestic trophy with Newcastle. And Antonio Conte clinched a title in his first year at Chelsea," he pointed out.
Pochettino has had some success in his career. He did well at Southampton and had a near-miss with Spurs, leading them to a Champions League final. However, he left without silverware after five seasons at Tottenham.
His stint at PSG included coaching superstars like Neymar, Mbappe, and Messi, yet he finished second in Ligue 1, marking a rare miss for the club. After a brief period at Chelsea that saw him last just a single season, he moved on to the U.S. national team, where he has had a decent but not groundbreaking impact.
"On paper, Pochettino is a very good manager, but under normal circumstances, he wouldn’t be in the running for a role at one of the top clubs," Solhekol asserted.
He raised a valid point about the financial implications of hiring and firing managers, noting that United could exceed £100 million since Sir Alex Ferguson's exit. "Now, they’re looking at spending around $10 million to bring Pochettino in when they could have had him for nothing over the summer," he said.
Solhekol expresses concern over how the club is treating Carrick, a player who is a club legend. "It’s shameful to let him go in such a public manner. Why keep him in the spotlight when it’s clear he’s on his way out?" he questioned.
He also highlighted the confusion over who is really making decisions at United. With a chief executive and a director of football in place, plus the influence of Jim Ratcliffe and the Glazers, it's unclear who is pushing for Pochettino.
"Is it the Glazers, Ratcliffe, or the club executives? The fans are skeptical about their experience and decision-making skills," he remarked.
Despite Ratcliffe's control over football operations, the Glazers still hold the majority stake, meaning they ultimately have the final say. This raises questions about whether they genuinely believe Pochettino is the right man to turn the club's fortunes around.
