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MAURICIO POCHETTINO is in the frame to be the new Manchester United boss two years after missing out on the job.
Pochettino has left Chelsea by mutual consent and INEOS chief Sir Jim Ratcliffe could be ready to have talks with the former Tottenham boss with Erik ten Hag clinging onto his job at Old Trafford.
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The 52-year-old Argentine was in a two-horse race with Ten Hag for the United job in April 2022, as he approached the exit door at Paris Saint-Germain.
United’s then kingmakers Richard Arnold and John Murtough are understood to have spoken to him then.
But were swayed by Ten Hag’s depth of knowledge of United and his ideas to turn things round.
The Dutchman did just that in his first season, finishing third and winning the Carabao Cup.
But things have gone into reverse in this campaign with an eighth-placed Premier League finish and group stage exit from the Champions League.
United still have this Saturday’s FA Cup Final to come, in a repeat of last year’s Wembley showpiece against neighbours Manchester City.
But even in the unlikely event of winning that, Ten Hag could still be out.
New United part owner Ratcliffe refused again last week in an interview with Sky to give Ten Hag a public vote of confidence.
Why Man Utd must win FA Cup
ERIK TEN HAG says Manchester United must pay back their world-class fans with an FA Cup triumph after their awful league season, writes Tom Barlcay.
United came eighth which was their lowest-ever finish despite winning 2-0 on the final day at Brighton.
They also came away from a miserable campaign with a negative goal difference – but still can win a trophy when they take on Manchester City in next week’s cup final.
The away fans roared themselves hoarse just as they have done all term despite the poor results.
Boss Ten Hag said: “We have the best fans in the world and I mean this.
“I have never had this experience when you have a season like us, which is by far not good enough, that the supporters are with us.
“They are with us in the bad season and in bad times they are there. I think also they know why the bad times are there.
“But we have to pay them back and we have to do everything to give them a trophy next week but also for the future, we have to perform better.”
United won thanks to late goals from Diogo Dalot and Rasmus Hojlund.
But for the second game running, Hojlund began the match on the bench as United opted for a false nine – in a hint over how United will set up in the cup final.
That was how they played in March’s 3-1 defeat to City at the Etihad in the league, too.
Ten Hag added: “It’s a luxury problem. Both formations can be a success because we can set up like we did at the Etihad where we were a threat with movement in behind.
“But of course with Rasmus Hojlund in this form it’s absolutely a consideration and a thought that we have to consider.
“You need not only 11 players in a tough final but a bench as well.”
Hojlund’s tally now stands at 16 goals in his maiden season after the 21-year-old arrived from Atalanta for £72million last summer.
Reflecting on the Dane’s campaign, Ten Hag observed: “It could always be better but don’t forget he had three injuries this season.
“He came in with the injury, missed the start, then he got injured before winter and then he got injured after winter. So every time that broke his rhythm and if you then shoot 16 goals for the first season it’s OK. And it’s not over, we have to play the FA Cup final.”
He preferred instead to talk about the set-up at the club that has failed successive managers.
Pochettino would be a popular choice amongst fans for his exciting style of play that took Tottenham to the Champions League Final back in 2019, beating Ten Hag’s Ajax with an incredible comeback in the semi-final second leg in Amsterdam.
Pochettino’s Chelsea record
MAURICIO POCHETTINO had just started to turn Chelsea around.
An impressive run of end-of-season form saw the Blues leapfrog the likes of Manchester United and Newcastle to finish sixth in the Premier League – and earn a Europa League spot.
But it wasn’t enough to keep him in a job as it was announced on Tuesday evening that the Argentine had left.
Here are all Pochettino’s Stamford Bridge stats:
Premier League – 6th
FA Cup – Semi-finals (lost to Man City)
Carabao Cup – Runners-up (Lost to Liverpool)
Total record:
Games 51
Wins 26
Draws 11
Defeats 14
Goals for 103
Goals against 74
Meanwhile, two managers celebrating promotion to the Prem are rated contenders to succeed Poch at Stamford Bridge.
One of those, Ipswich’s Kieran McKenna, has also been linked with the Old Trafford job.
The other is Leicester’s Enzo Maresca, whose future at the King Power was already far from certain.
Former Brighton chief Roberto De Zerbi and Stuttgart boss Sebastian Hoeness are other names already being mentioned.
Girona boss and ex-Germany manager Hansi Flick might also be in the running.
Inevitably, ex-United and Chelsea chief Jose Mourinho has been talked of, but must be an extremely long shot.
Boehly’s record would make even Abramovich blush… we’re back to square one
HERE we go again.
Just when some positivity was building around the place and an optimistic eye was being cast to the future, Clearlake Capital go hurtling full pelt back to the drawing board, write SunSport’s Tom Sheen.
Mauricio Pochettino leaving will make it six different managers in less than two years when next season rolls around, a record that would make Roman Abramovich blush.
But while the oligarch was keeping Chelsea’s HR department busy by regularly handing out P45s, he was also regularly delivering world class players in the hope of delivering instant silverware.
There was no ‘Vision 2030’, talk of players as financial assets or ridiculous eight-year contracts that potentially hamstring the club.
Hiring and firing worked under the previous regime because Chelsea had a spine of world class talent that they were always looking to improve upon – not a group of players who look light years away from the top teams in the land.
One thing is for sure, though. If Clearlake carry on down this road they’ll need a rebrand to Vision 2060.
Click here to read Tom’s damning verdict in full…
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