Manchester United has reached a verbal agreement with Mauricio Pochettino to become their next head coach. Chief Executive Omar Berrada and Director of Football Jason Wilcox are in Monaco to meet co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe to finalize the deal. The club wants to move quickly if they decide to part ways with current coach Michael Carrick, who has been in charge since January and led the club to the Champions League.
Pochettino's appointment is subject to details being sorted out with his camp, but United are confident that there won't be any issues. Talks are also expected to accelerate with the US Soccer Federation regarding Pochettino's contract, which he signed in the summer. The fee to buy him out of that contract is just over £7 million, but it's expected to be higher if United pursue his backroom staff.
Michael Carrick took training again, despite news emerging of the agreement with Pochettino. This situation is remarkable, with Carrick still in his post while his replacement is being lined up. Manchester United had to have a plan in place if they were to make a change in their head coach position, following back-to-back defeats against Como and Bournemouth.
The club gave Carrick three more games to turn around the team's form, which resulted in one loss, one win, and one draw against Aston Villa. However, the team is currently in the relegation zone, and the hierarchy seems to have lost confidence in Carrick. There is some regret that private discussions have become public, and it's unfortunate for Carrick, who has been an integral part of the club as a player and coach.
Many people in football think it's shameful the way Manchester United is treating Michael Carrick, a legendary player for the club. If the club has decided to replace him with Pochettino, it seems unfair to let Carrick suffer in public. The meeting between Omar Berrada, Jason Wilcox, and Sir Jim Ratcliffe was already planned, but it now seems that Pochettino's appointment is a priority.
The saga surrounding Carrick's departure and Pochettino's appointment raises questions about how Manchester United is currently being run. The club's ownership structure, with the Glazer family and INEOS, seems to be causing confusion and uncertainty. It's unclear who is making the decisions and whether the appointments of Berrada and Wilcox have been successful.
Pochettino is considered a good manager, but it's debatable whether he would be in the frame for top-tier jobs at other clubs like Liverpool, Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Barcelona, or Real Madrid. His appointment seems to be a short-term solution, and it remains to be seen how he will perform as Manchester United's head coach.
Key points
- Manchester United agrees verbal deal with Mauricio Pochettino as new head coach.
- Pochettino's appointment is subject to details being sorted out with his camp and the US Soccer Federation.
- Michael Carrick's departure seems imminent, with the club treating him poorly in the process.
