Football

Manchester United have no plans to replace Ole Gunnar Solskjaer with Mauricio Pochettino


Manchester United targeted Mauricio Pochettino before appointing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (Getty Images)

Manchester United have shelved their plans to appoint Mauricio Pochettino and are committed to backing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, according to reports.

Following Jose Mourinho’s sacking last December, Pochettino was at the top of United’s managerial shortlist drawn up by their executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward.

But the Argentine ended up staying with Spurs while Woodward appointed Solskjaer, initially on a short-term deal before he gave the Norwegian a permanent three-year contract in March off the back of United’s impressive form.

However, United’s performances have been erratic since Solskjaer was installed as the club’s permanent manager and the team are facing a fight to secure a top-four finish in the Premier League this season.

Solskjaer also faces even more pressure due to the availability of Pochettino, who was surprisingly sacked by Tottenham earlier this week, less than six months after guiding Spurs to a Champions League final.

Mauricio Pochettino was sacked by Tottenham earlier this week (AFP via Getty Images)

According to The Athletic, United have already met with Pochettino to discuss a potential move but the prospect of paying £42 million in compensation to Spurs in order to land the Argentine was a major stumbling block.

But the report also claims that United are ‘committed’ to Solskjaer’s reign and are backing his ‘long-term vision’.

Woodward is also said to have been impressed during following a conversation with Solskjaer last December in which the Norwegian showed a flip chart of what his United side could look like in the next three years.

United’s executive vice-chairman is also said to have been warned by Solskjaer last season that his team would suffer a dip in form at some point.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is not threatened by Pochettino’s availability (Getty Images)

On Friday, Solskjaer dismissed the threat of Pochettino taking his job at United now he has become available.

‘No, it doesn’t bother me at all because I’ve got the best job in the world and I’m sure that if you’re in or out of a job and you are a manager, you would want this job,’

‘So it doesn’t really matter whatever happens around it.

“I’ve got to focus on my job at Man United, do it as well as we can, I speak with Ed and the owners all the time about how we are going to move the club forward.

‘That doesn’t change if some other clubs change their managers.’





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