Premier League English

Mauricio Pochettino in the wings to replace Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as manager following humiliating 6-1 defeat to Tottenham

The media rooms are abuzz with the news that Manchester United have contacted ex-Spurs boss, Mauricio Pochettino, about potentially replacing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as the club’s manager in the wake of their humiliating debacle in being handed a 6-1 troucing by Spurs, according to reports.

The Red Devils were humbled 6-1 at home by Pochettino’s former club Tottenham on Sunday which has again clouded Solskjaer’s future at the club.

The Dail Star reports that senior figures at Old Trafford have contacted Pochettino’s representatives and are asking whether he would be interested in the role, adding that members of the United hierarchy want to see better results from Solskjaer and that chief executive Ed Woodward is reluctant to sack the Norwegian.

Put into the current context, this means that the contact with Pochettino is only provisional in case they have to switch managers.

Pochettino was largely responsible for taking Spurs from top-half regulars in 2014 to Champions League finalists five years later, while in that period, the manager helped to create a strong core in the playing squad that includes club captain Hugo Lloris, defender Toby Alderweireld and star striker Harry Kane as Tottenham also moved stadiums.

However just five months after taking Spurs to the Champions League final, which they lost 2-0 to Liverpool in June 2019, Pochettino was relieved of his duties following a string of poor performances and was replaced by Jose Mourinho.

The Portuguese coach took Spurs from 14th position to a sixth-placed finish by the end of the 2019-20 season and the club will compete in the Europa League group stages this month. Pochettino has been out of a job since being sacked by Spurs 11 months ago and is waiting for his next challenge in management.

Questions are already on the rise again regarding Solskjaer’s competence as United manager despite a third-place finish in the Premier League last season.

However, Manchester United fans have also pointed the finger at other personnel at the club for their falling standards in recent weeks, which has seen them pick up just one win from their opening three matches of the Premier League season.

Chief executive Woodward’s inability to bring in top transfer targets such as Jadon Sancho has been a concern for supporters, while regular defensive frailties from the likes of Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof have been pointed out by fans.