Paul Ince admits he is still leaning towards Mauricio Pochettino becoming Manchester United manager after key figures in the Old Trafford boardroom identified Erik ten Hag as their preferred candidate. It’s understood initial talks between Ajax coach ten Hag and the United hierarchy have already been held.
However, a final decision has yet to be made and Pochettino remains another front-runner to replace Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on a permanent basis. And Ince is backing the former Spurs boss to be appointed amid suggestions from Roy Keane and Paul Scholes that Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone also ought to be considered.
Speaking on The United Stand podcast, Ince said: “First and foremost, I am not sure why Keane and Scholes would want Simeone. That is pure madness. He has done great in Spain and won titles there, but if you look at his style of football, you wouldn’t want to watch that every week at Old Trafford.
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“I’m not sure his style of football would be conducive to what we’re trying to search for at United. It’s madness. I’ve always said Poch from the start. Maybe if they had made that appointment two or three years ago we would all be in a much healthier place than what we are now.
“Everyone is coming out and saying what a great coach [Ten Hag] is, but it’s not just about coaching when you’re at Manchester United. It’s about dealing with the egos, big names and making sure they are all thinking from the same hymn sheet, or singing, where there is one common goal.
“It needs a project and a plan and a strategy. Everyone has to buy into it and we have seen, over the last two, three or four years, if they [United players] don’t agree with something they can throw a manager under the bus.
“The only way this team is going to be successful is if, from top to bottom, they all have one common goal. Anyone who comes in has got to be able to handle the big stars and pull the changing room back together. I said what I did about Pochettino a few years ago – and things could have been different.
“He built a very, very good side at Tottenham. You say Pochettino because he has been in the Premier League. He’s got that experience and I don’t know enough about Ten Hag. I can see why he may get the job, but until the end of this season it’s going to be one of them…”
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