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#3 Mauricio Pochettino could be the long-term manager Manchester United are craving for
It is no secret that Manchester United have been looking for a long-term manager ever since Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement in 2013. However, that has not materialised. The Red Devils have employed four permanent managers in almost nine years, changing them every two seasons.
Mauricio Pochettino has been very vocal about building projects at the clubs he works at. He spent over three years at Espanyol and over five years at Tottenham Hotspur. Sandwiched between the two stints was an 18-month spell at Southampton. There, Pochettino had excellent results and departed on amicable terms.
On paper, Pochettino offers the prospect of a long-term project at Old Trafford that names such as Zidane and Conte do not. It remains to be seen whether Manchester United's notoriously unhelpful board and management would allow Pochettino to bring his plans to fruition.
#2 Pochettino has experience of working with difficult boards
Manchester United's board of directors, which includes executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward and owners Joel and Avram Glazer, have often come under scathing criticism. Considered to be obsessed with the commercial aspects of the club, they have been accused of not prioritising football and on-field performances.
The club's hierarchy has also been at odds with Manchester United's previous managers. Louis van Gaal was practically sacked on the spot after winning the FA Cup, while Jose Mourinho accused the board of failing to back him in the transfer market.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was then allowed to spend a significant sum of money that didn't lead to any trophies.
Fortunately for Manchester United fans, Mauricio Pochettino has an extensive history of working with difficult executives. Tottenham Hotspur supremo Daniel Levy is notoriously stingy in the transfer market. His refusal to invest in the Spurs squad eventually led to Pochettino leaving White Hart Lane in 2019.
Meanwhile, Leonardo Araujo of PSG has made it a habit of clashing with his managers, and his relationship with Pochettino is reportedly already strained. The Argentine is one of the few top-level managers who could potentially coexist with a board that is perceived by fans as incompetent.
#1 Pochettino is the best available option for Manchester United right now
Despite Manchester United's disastrous form over the last month, they still boast a stacked squad. While a title challenge is a pipedream now, The Red Devils are top of their Champions League group, and could make a run at the FA Cup. There is a sense that this season is not beyond salvage.
While there has been talk of appointing an interim manager, Mauricio Pochettino's immediate availability could change things. The alternate options in Manchester United's reported list are either not interested (Zinedine Zidane), or unwilling to make a switch midway through the season (Ajax's Erik ten Hag).
Pochettino has prior Premier League experience, a good track record with youth and has been involved in top-of-the-table title races. Most importantly, if reports are to be believed, he is willing to take up the United job immediately. This one feels like a no-brainer for a club that cannot afford to get another managerial decision wrong.
