Mauricio Pochettino is ready to say yes to Manchester United. The USA head coach wants the Old Trafford job if United make a formal offer.
Michael Carrick looks set to lose his post within 48 hours. United sit 18th in the Premier League with one win from 10 games. The club needs a quick fix, and Pochettino could be the answer.
Carrick’s Fate Set for Monaco Talks
United’s top brass will decide Carrick’s future at a meeting in Monaco on Wednesday. Chief executive Omar Berrada and Director of Football Jason Wilcox flew out for the talks. Co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe will also attend.
These strategy meetings happen regularly, but this one carries far more weight. Sources expect Berrada and Wilcox to recommend that Carrick goes. The 45-year-old still turned up at Carrington, United’s training base, on Wednesday.
His record makes grim reading, though. United (1.98) have won just one of their first 10 league games. That lone win came against Ipswich in August. They now sit in the relegation zone, only one point off the bottom.
It is the club’s lowest position at this stage of a top-flight season since 1986-87. Back then, they sat 20th. The problems go beyond attack, too. United have conceded 30 goals in 15 games in all competitions. Those numbers leave the board with little choice.
Why Pochettino Is the Favourite
United’s interest in Pochettino is nothing new. The club has spoken to him about the top job three times before. The first talks came in 2018, after Jose Mourinho’s sacking. United held talks again in 2022, before they chose Erik ten Hag. They returned to him once more when the Dutchman left in 2024.
Each time, the deal never happened. This time, both sides seem keen. Sources told BBC Sport that Pochettino wants the job once Carrick’s future is clear. He sees it as a serious opportunity.
Style plays a big part, too. United’s bosses reportedly prefer him to Antonio Conte, another name on the shortlist. Conte builds his teams around discipline, hard work and quick counter-attacks. Pochettino’s sides press high, keep the ball and attack with purpose. That fits the free-flowing style United fans have long expected.
A Delicate Exit From the USA
Leaving the USA will not be simple. Pochettino only signed a new contract with the US Soccer Federation in August. United would need to pay $10m (£7.5m) to release him.
He also wants to treat his current employers with respect. So he will wait for United to make an official approach first.
The timing is awkward. The USA face Haiti in a two-legged CONCACAF Nations League quarter-final over the next week. Walking out halfway through the camp would not look good. Still, the 54-year-old expects to accept if United formally offer him the role.
He has done solid work with the USA. He took charge in September 2024 and led the co-hosts at the 2026 World Cup. They reached the last 16 before Belgium knocked them out.
From Espanyol to the Premier League
Pochettino was a tough, no-nonsense centre-back in his playing days. He started at Newell’s Old Boys in 1989 and moved to Espanyol in 1994. He played over 200 league games for the Spanish club. He also won 20 caps for Argentina and started every game at the 2002 World Cup.
His coaching career began at Espanyol in January 2009. He steered them clear of relegation in his first season. Along the way, they beat Barcelona at Camp Nou for the first time in 27 years.
Southampton gave him his Premier League break in January 2013. In his first full season, Saints finished eighth. They also posted their highest points tally since the Premier League began in 1992. Tottenham came calling in 2014, and his best work followed.
The Tottenham Years and Beyond
Pochettino turned Spurs into real contenders. They reached the League Cup final in his first season and finished fifth. In 2016, they posted their best league finish since 1990. A year later, they finished second with a club-record 86 points. It was their highest finish since 1963.
The peak came in 2019. Spurs knocked out Manchester City (1.42) and Ajax to reach the Champions League final. They lost 2-0 to Liverpool in Madrid. Five months later, a poor start to the season cost him his job.
He joined Paris Saint-Germain in January 2021 and won the Ligue 1 title in 2022. Next came a single season at Chelsea in 2023-24. He guided the Blues to sixth, then left two days later.
What He Would Bring to Old Trafford
Pochettino usually sets up in a 4-2-3-1. When building from the back, it often becomes a 3-2-5. One full-back tucks inside while the other stretches the play.
That shape could suit United’s current squad. Bruno Fernandes, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo look like natural fits. Yet there is a clear gap up front. Benjamin Sesko is out injured, and Joshua Zirkzee has struggled to make an impact.
Youth is another area where he could help. At Tottenham, he handed chances to Harry Kane, Dele Alli and Eric Dier. At Southampton, he worked with a young Luke Shaw, now at United. He often watches youth games and invites prospects to train with the first team.
That matches United’s proud history under Sir Alex Ferguson. Ferguson turned Ryan Giggs, David Beckham and Paul Scholes into global stars. A talent like Shea Lacey could thrive under that approach.
The Risks United Must Weigh
The move is not without risk. Pochettino’s teams push many players forward. That can leave the defence open on the counter. For a side already leaking goals, that is a real worry.
His style also demands high fitness, intensity and discipline. United have lacked all three for much of this season.
Spurs fans also felt he put league games ahead of cup ties. That could matter at United. A new boss faces 16 games in 60 days, starting at Liverpool on 22 November. That run includes 11 Premier League games and four Champions League matches. An FA Cup third-round tie is also on the list.
His time at PSG raises questions, too. With Kylian Mbappe and Neymar in 2021, PSG still lost the title to Lille. They finished one point behind after four late defeats. He won the league in 2022 with Lionel Messi added. Yet PSG failed to reach the Champions League or Coupe de France quarter-finals.
What Comes Next
Pochettino would become United’s eighth permanent boss since Ferguson left in May 2013. Ferguson had ruled Old Trafford for more than 26 years. Since then, the club has struggled to find the right fit.
Pochettino knows the Premier League well and has built strong teams before. But the task here is huge. First, United must confirm Carrick’s exit. Then they must agree terms with the US Soccer Federation.
If all goes to plan, a trip to Anfield awaits. There are few tougher places to start a rescue mission.
