Pochettino plans emerge, as report reveals how PSG boss left Man Utd ‘confused’
Despite it looking like his Manchester United ship has sailed, Mauricio Pochettino will be leaving Paris Saint-Germain in the summer, it has been reported.
Pochettino was one of the front-runners to take the Manchester United job this summer. The Red Devils sacked Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in November 2021 following an indifferent start to the season. They then handed the reins to Ralf Rangnick on an interim basis.
Rangnick has not been able to stop the inconsistencies on show at Old Trafford. As expected, he will therefore vacate the managerial position to become a consultant in the summer.
In turn, a permanent appointment will arrive for the manager’s role. Widespread reports are now revealing that the man in question will be Erik ten Hag.
That will come as a blow to any hopes Pochettino had of becoming Manchester United manager. He was initially the favourite to succeed Solskjaer, but remained with Paris Saint-Germain.
However, his time back in the French capital – where he was once a player – has not been particularly successful. He could not lead them to retain their Ligue 1 title last season.
Although set to rectify that this term, winning the league is almost a given for the dominant financial force in French football. Their real aim is to conquer the Champions League for the first time.
But Pochettino – who reached the final with Tottenham Hotspur in 2019, only to lose to Liverpool – has not had the desired effect in that department. Real Madrid eliminated them in the Round of 16 this term.
Therefore, when covering the news of Ten Hag’s imminent appointment in Manchester, the Daily Telegraph have written that “Pochettino is set to leave Paris Saint-Germain at the end of the campaign”.
Describing him as the previous favourite for the Man Utd role, the Telegraph are not able to provide any information on where he may end up next.
Reports elsewhere have suggested he could return to Tottenham if Antonio Conte leaves. But the Italian looks to have a chance of getting Spurs back into the Champions League, so could fulfil his contract until 2023.
Man Utd’s Pochettino snub explained
It means Pochettino may have to perhaps take another break. He previously waited more than a year between his Tottenham and PSG roles.
A write-up elsewhere on BBC Sport has shed light on how Pochettino fell off Man Utd’s radar.
The article claims he held three rounds of talks with Ed Woodward in recent years. What’s more, he had the support of Sir Alex Ferguson. But United’s owners were “confused” by what he has done in Paris.
Some observers reportedly informed Richard Arnold that Pochettino’s tactics and development of players appealed. But others warned his achievements elsewhere were “insufficient”.
Therefore, Man Utd instead identified Ten Hag as the preferable option.
His Argentine counterpart will therefore have to wait to find a better fit for his next job, whenever that opportunity may arise.
READ MORE: Man Utd battling Tottenham to sign England international with major exit to follow
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