Surprisingly, Manchester United players seem to be of one mind in pushing for current PSG gaffer Mauricio Pochettino to be the club’s next permanent manager, according to reports.
However, the view is not shared by interim boss Ralf Rangnick who has Ajax boss Erik ten Hag in mind as the ideal candidate to succeed him in the summer once his tenure as gaffer comes to an end.
Argentine Pochettino has always been held in appreciably high esteem by the club’s hierarchy and United chiefs seem confident they can prise him away from PSG at the end of the season, which would not be unfeasible as both the Parisian capital club and the gaffer seem to be have fallen out, according to recent reports circulating at the Parc des Princes.
According to The Sun, United’s players would fully support Pochettino’s move to Old Trafford which can be expedited by the installation of their new chief executive Richard Arnold who will intensify their pursuit of the former Tottenham boss.
The Argentine had even from before been in United’s crosshairs after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was given the boot last November but they were unable to persuade PSG to engage in the discussion given the Ligue 1 side’s failed attempts to lure Zinedine Zidane to the French capital mid-season.
Although Pochettino has the admiration of United players who believe his Premier League experience is key to getting the club challenging for the title once again, the 49-year-old isn’t the only one on the club’s radar as Ajax boss Erik Ten Hag is allegedly favored by Rangnick, who will move into a consultancy role at the end of the campaign.
Dutchman Ten Hag seems to match United’s key criteria for their next manager as he is known for blooding youth, playing attractive football and is on the pursuit of silverware.
Rangnick is in a strong position to voice his opinion on the type of manager the club needs going forward, having spent several months with the squad although his views would clearly clash with what United’s players want.
A 1-1 draw with Burnley on Tuesday night saw United slip to fifth and former Premier League striker Peter Crouch believes whoever takes charge will have a huge rebuilding job on their hands.
‘My worry has been with the players this season, a lot of people have talked about body language and attitude and these things in the dressing room you don’t like to hear,’ he said.
‘Whoever comes in and takes that role after Rangnick this season has got a real job on his hands to make a harmonious dressing room again
‘When things go wrong there are arms thrown, people tweeting and coming out on Twitter and sort of undermining the manager.
‘It’s Manchester United, that should not be happening!’