Word is that Mauricio Pochettino is first choice to take over Manchester United by this summer. But is he the right man to turn the club around?
As to who’s most likely to replace Ralf Rangnick at Manchester United this summer, there have been several big names thrown into the hat. Erik Ten Hag and Ernesto Valverde are just some of those who have been mentioned, but, at present, it seems that Pochettino is the hot favourite to take on the role to manage the Red Devils.
Certainly, the Argentine thrives on having a project, so he might just be the boost that Manchester United needs at this time. The club has undergone a series of setbacks lately. Previous manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was sacked in November after a dismal start to the 2020-2021 campaign, while current manager Rangnick has so far failed to elevate the team’s performance back to that of its heyday. Could Pochettino be the one to do it?
Why Pochettino Might Be the Right Man
Pochettino’s management style has been hailed as positive and encouraging, boosting players’ morale by improving not only their technical and physical skills, but improving them mentally as well. He has also enjoyed numerous successes as a manager in recent years, having turned the fortunes of Tottenham Hotspur on a much lower budget than Manchester United’s net spend. Pochettino led Spurs straight to the final of the UEFA Champions League, transforming the London team into serious Premier League contenders too. Manchester United haven’t competed for a Champions League title in almost a decade, so could the current Paris Saint-Germaine manager be the one to lift them from the doldrums? If Pochettino was able to revolutionise Spurs on a limited budget, it would be interesting to see what he could do with a team like Manchester United, who is among the most lavish spenders in football. It would certainly be intriguing for any fan who has Manchester United tickets for that first game under Pochettino’s management, seeing if there’s any indication of where they should be heading.
Why Pochettino Might Not be the Right Man
Unfortunately, Pochettino has been criticised a lot this season for his management style, which has been described as making his team look disorganised during matches. Nonetheless, Paris Saint-Germain won the Coupe de France and made the UEFA Champions League semi-finals last year under Pochettino’s watch. If Pochettino manages to hold onto his position as PSG manager and get the French team to the finals this year, then he would be heading to Manchester United on an incredible high. That could work against him, however, as it might raise expectations too much and put a lot of pressure on the 49-year-old. On the other hand, not achieving a win in May could be seen as a disappointment that could set him off on a poor footing at Manchester United. It seems that he can’t really win either way.
Is Pochettino the right man for the role of Manchester United manager? He certainly has vast experience and exceptional skills that he could offer. Keeping in mind his incredible transformation of Spurs, it would certainly be interesting to see what he could achieve with the finances of a club such as the Red Devils. If Pochettino does become the next Manchester United manager, only time will tell if he was the right man for the job.
