News reaching the rest of the football world is that Manchester United have interviewed Paris Saint-Germain boss Mauricio Pochettino on Monday for their managerial role.
Manchester United have been scouting the former Tottenham Hotspur manager for a long time, but intensified their pursuit of the Argentine tactician after the sacking of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Pochettino, only in his first season at PSG, is still one of the favourites despite the club considering Ajax Amsterdam’s Erik ten Hag for the role as well.
Pochettino has tried to debunk links to United by claiming to be focused on PSG. However, Foot Mercato reports that that may not be the case as Pochettino was interviewed by the United hierarchy on Monday.
Ralf Rangnick is currently in charge of the team, having been co-opted from Russian side Lokomotiv Moscow on an interim basis after which he will take a two year football director consultancy role.
Rangnick’s mandate is to make sure that the team’s place at the UEFA Champions League next season is certain, but the shadow of a new manager still hangs over the club.
It is understood Pochettino is the favoured candidate to take over at Old Trafford.
Despite the desperate state of the club, it is also understood that they will take their time to appoint a manager and have also communicated this to Pochettino who they interviewed on Monday.
Former United coach warns ten Hag against joining Manchester United
The manager of the Netherlands national team, Louis Van Gaal, who managed Manchester United between 2014 and 2016, has advised fellow Dutchman Erik ten Hag against taking the job.
Ajax Amsterdam manager ten Hag is Pochettino’s major competition for the Man United job, and he was interviewed before the Argentine, who was interviewed on Monday.
It is understood that the 52-year-old is ready to call it quits on his time as Ajax manager. But Van Gaal, who came out of retirement to manage the Ditch national team, has advised him to not pay heed to Man United’s calls.
The veteran Dutch coach was vocal about his dislike of then sporting director of United, Ed Woodward’s commercial focus during his time as United manager. It has shaped his opinion of the club, which he has offered as advice to ten Hag.
“I think Erik ten Hag is a great coach, he’s shown that several times, and a great coach is always good for Manchester United,” Van Gaal said at a press conference.
“Erik ten Hag needs a football club, not a commercial club and Manchester United are a commercial club.”
