Sir Alex Ferguson wants Mauricio Pochettino to be the next Manchester United head coach if the club decide to sack Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, according to reports.
Solskjaer is on the brink after the embarrassing 5-0 defeat to Liverpool at the theatre of dreams, with reports claiming the Norwegian coach has three games to save his job.
While Solskjaer is expected to be in charge of the team when they face Tottenham, the pressure on the manager is at an all-time high and even some members of the squad are now questioning him.
- Man Utd player criticizes Solskjaer for making Harry Maguire captain in heated meeting
- Paul Scholes names favourites for Premier League title this season
- Man Utd board disagree over Pochettino & Antonio Conte
Ferguson is still reported to be backing his former player to turn things around at Old Trafford, but has identified his top choice to take over from Solskjaer if the club do opt for a change.
According to The Daily Star, PSG manager Pochettino is Ferguson’s first choice should Solskjaer be relieved of his duties, with the United legend a ‘huge admirer’ of the Argentine.
Pochettino spent five years at Tottenham and, while he failed to win any trophies at the club, he established himself as one of the most highly-rated managers in Europe.
The 49-year-old, who has been linked with the job, took over at PSG at the start of the year and extended his contract in France last summer.
But there is a sense that the situation at the French club could quickly unravel as Pochettino looks to end his wait for a Champions League trophy while keeping Lionel Messi, Mbappe and Neymar happy.
With Solskjaer fighting to save his job, former Chelsea manager Antonio Conte and Leicester’s Brendan Rodgers have also been linked with United but the Daily Star claim Pochettino is the club’s major target.
Despite the speculation, there remains a chance that Solskjaer will see out this tough period and last the season, with Jamie Carragher claiming Man United are ‘terrified’ of making a change.
‘Manchester United are terrified to make a change,’ Carragher told Sky Sports after Liverpool’s win at Old Trafford.
‘They’re terrified to bring someone in like they did with [Louis] Van Gaal and [Jose] Mourinho and it’s not a Manchester United guy.
‘I think for the Manchester United board right now, I don’t think it’s a case of staying strong, I think it’s a case of actually panicking.’
