Former England star Steve McManaman has urged Manchester United to ignore Sir Alex Ferguson’s manager recommendation and go all out for Paris Saint-Germain boss Mauricio Pochettino.
United, who suffered a humbling 4-1 defeat to Manchester rivals City on Sunday, are poised to appoint a permanent manager at the end of the season.
Ralf Rangnick has been in charge of the side on a temporary basis since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s sacking in November and looks set to move into a consultancy role at Old Trafford this summer.
Pochettino and Erik ten Hag are the frontrunners for the Manchester United job and McManaman insists the former, who spent five years at Tottenham, would suit the Red Devils ‘down to the ground’.
Last week, it was reported that United legend Ferguson viewed Real Madrid boss Ancelotti as an ideal alternative if a deal could not be reached for Pochettino, but McManaman has doubts over the Italian.
‘That wouldn’t be a good appointment for Manchester United,’ McManaman told HorseRacing.net. ‘I don’t see the point of it.
‘United need stability at the minute, they need to plan, and pick a good manager, give him time, and back him to a certain extent in what he wants to do with the players.
‘If he wants to get rid of players, he needs to be backed. But they need some stability and they need it long-term.
‘I don’t know what’s going to happen with Carlo at Real Madrid. It looks like he’s going to win the league so I’d be surprised if they get rid of him. A lot of it will depend on what happens in the Champions League.’
Asked whether United should focus their efforts on landing Pochettino, the former England and Liverpool winger added: ‘I think he would strengthen Manchester United, but anybody would at the moment.
‘I don’t mean that disrespectfully. They’re all over the place. They need to appoint ‘A Manager’ – and I’m not saying it’s Pochettino – and give them a little bit of strength and a little bit of stability.
‘I feel sorry for Rangnick coming in because with this “interim appointment” until the end of the season and then him going upstairs, there are so many uncertainties that they’ve weakened his case as a manager.
‘The way it’s been handled has been shambolic. If it was Poch, if it was Erik ten Hag, it would strengthen Manchester United’s case, the way they are.
‘It’s just been a mess, really, and very unbecoming of them. I think they’ll be better regardless.
‘Pochettino is a great manager. He’d suit Manchester United down to the ground. And then he could probably aim for Real Madrid later down the line.’
United’s 4-1 defeat to Manchester City leaves them fifth in the Premier League, one point behind Arsenal who have three games in hand.
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