Pochettino poised to replace Carrick after Monaco summit, but United's handling of coach exit draws criticism
When the expected formalities of Michael Carrick's dismissal as Manchester United are completed after a summit meeting in Monaco, Mauricio Pochettino looks set to take over at Old Trafford and end a years-long link with the club; Pochettino has been in charge of the USA since September 2024.
Pochettino's association with Manchester United stretches back to a May 2016 lunch at Scott's in Mayfair with Sir Alex Ferguson, an encounter the Argentine later described as "a meeting in London between colleagues, between a genius and an apprentice" and which the article says forged a lasting link. He was named as a contender to replace Louis van Gaal in May 2016 and was again mentioned after Jose Mourinho's sacking in December 2018, was one of the other names on United's shortlist when Erik ten Hag was appointed in April 2022, and was considered again when Ten Hag left in October 2024.
The piece describes United as a once great footballing empire now "crumbling before the eyes," the product of "years of poor decision-making and questionable appointments," and a "Frankenstein's monster of a squad assembled by six managers." It notes a quirky personal detail about Pochettino: he keeps a box of lemons in his office believing they absorb negative energy, and concludes "He will need several truckloads of the industrial strength variety to suck away the current mood at Old Trafford."
The handling of Carrick's exit is criticised as long and awkward; the article says the drawn-out process "does little credit to part-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox." It records Carrick, 45, as having been confirmed as permanent head coach after a successful interim spell but judges he "has proved to be out of his depth," while acknowledging his history as a successful player, "his basic decency and his obvious desire to turn United's fortunes around".
Pochettino is described as ready to accept a United offer after leading the USA at this summer's World Cup, and the article reproduces an exchange from the tournament when Pochettino told assistant Jesús Pérez: "One day, your dream comes true. You go to Manchester United." Pérez replied: "United should have got you", to which Pochettino smiled and said: "Future. Future."
The report outlines Pochettino's club record: he was appointed at Spurs from Southampton in May 2014 and "never finished lower than fifth - in his first season - in any full campaign in charge," including second behind Chelsea in 2016-17 and third in 2015-16 and 2017-18. It also notes a more mixed later record: a sixth-place finish at Chelsea in 2023-24 is mentioned, and his first trophies came with Paris St-Germain, the 2021 French Cup and the 2022 Ligue 1 title, a stint the article says PSG's hierarchy judged insufficient and which he did not complete.
The article adds detail on Pochettino's reputation as a developer of players and his sometimes uncompromising approach: he worked with Harry Kane to refine the player described here as the "recently crowned Ballon d'Or winner," signed Son Heung-Min for £22m from Bayer Leverkusen in 2015, and saw Cole Palmer enjoy his best season at Chelsea under him, "scoring 25 goals in 45 appearances." It also quotes Pochettino on squad management: "When I was a player, when I didn't make the roster I didn't want my coach to call me. The players who didn't make the roster, they don't want to hear me say 'I apologise'. What are you going to say? Am I going to lie?" The piece says the road to his sacking at Spurs began after a friendly win against Real Madrid weeks after their Champions League final defeat when he complained he was not having enough influence.
Spanish football expert Guillem Balague is quoted on Pochettino's fit with United personnel: "There is a fit with the people at the club too. "Omar Berrada is a fan. When Manchester City drew up a shortlist to replace Pep Guardiola, some City supporters, including Omar, argued for Pochettino to be on it. "There are plenty of clues about his feelings for United in the book. He was at the stadium in 1999 when United won the Champions League. "Sir Alex Ferguson is mentioned 28 times, more than any other name in the biography. "Spurs tried to push back and cut those references. Pochettino and I talked it over and decided that none of it would be touched. That shows how much it mattered to him."
The immediate next step remains the Monaco summit that will decide Carrick's future and, once the club provides official confirmation of his departure, the article implies Pochettino's appointment at Manchester United will follow.