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Pochettino to Manchester United? Yet another managerial gamble that could repeat previous mistakes
Manchester United are reportedly closing in on Mauricio Pochettino as Michael Carrick’s potential successor, with the Argentine emerging as the leading candidate to rescue the Red Devils from crisis.
Pochettino is once again an attractive option with Premier League experience, and he had previously taken Tottenham Hotspur to the UEFA Champions League final in 2019.
He had also led Spurs to a second-place finish in 2016-17, when his team narrowly missed out on the title to Chelsea but scored more goals (86) and conceded fewer (26) than any other team in the league.
His side went unbeaten at home all season, winning 17 and drawing two of their games.
On the other hand, Michael Carrick is on the verge of being sacked during the international break.
Carrick was temporarily hired after Ruben Amorim was sacked, and he immediately had a big impact, with Manchester United earning 39 points, more than any team during that period.
The Red Devils also finished in the top four, and this earned Carrick a two-year contract as the head coach.
However, things turned completely different this season, as Man United have won just one of their first ten Premier League games, their worst start to a league campaign since 1986-87.
Therefore, the club's hierarchy had a meeting recently and concluded that a change is indeed required to rescue the club from crisis.
Pochettino developed young players, had an aggressive pressing style and transformed Spurs into genuine Premier League and European contenders.
His experience could certainly help a United squad currently lacking structure, intensity and mostly confidence.
However, after leaving Tottenham, his career became more complicated. His spell at Paris Saint-Germain brought domestic silverware, but he struggled to create the consistency they are enjoying now.
His time at Chelsea was also mixed. There were signs of improvement towards the end of his tenure, but the club finished sixth, and he departed after just one season in charge.
That inconsistency is what should concern Manchester United as the club seeks a safe refuge right now.
Carrick’s side have struggled with defensive organisation, pressing structure and consistency, but United have also spent years changing managers while repeatedly rebuilding the squad to suit a different tactical philosophy but nothing has worked till date.
Pochettino would bring another major shift, but is United's current squad even capable of answering to the Argentine manager’s demands?
Pochettino’s experience in developing young players and organising teams could make him one of United’s better available options right now, but he would arrive without a clear long-term sporting plan, and the same cycle could repeat once again in the future.
United's real change is required in the club's hierarchy for making decisions, otherwise Pochettino becomes just another manager asked to repair a team that remains broken.
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