Mauricio Pochettino is amongst the contenders to becoming Manchester United’s next manager - and not for the first time.
Three years ago, the Red Devils confirmed Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had been handed the role on a permanent basis. But Pochettino’s presence lurked like a shadow for large periods of his reign as the ex-Tottenham manager was touted as their future boss.
At the time, it was generally considered that any chance to appoint Pochettino would be too good to turn down. As a result, when Pochettino as axed by Tottenham in November 2019, a few months after Solskjaer signed a three-year deal, speculation was rife.
Solskjaer offered a message of sympathy to Pochettino, despite knowing full-well that his presence added pressure to his own job. “For Mauricio, it's always sad when one of your colleagues, a good man, loses his job, especially before Christmas, so I wish him all the best,” Solskjaer said.
Solskjaer also had to respond to the notion that United could look to appoint the Argentinian as his replacement. He downplayed the pressure and insisted it was something he would not consider as he got on with his own job.
“No, it doesn't bother me at all,” said Solskjaer. “I’ve got the best job in the world and if you're in or out of a job, you want this job, so it doesn't really matter whatever happens around it.
“I've got to focus on my job at Manchester United and do it as well as we can. I speak with Ed [Woodward, United's executive vice-chairman] and the owners all the time about how we move forward, and that doesn't change if others change managers.”
A member of Solskjaer’s coaching staff, Michael Carrick, reiterated that the response behind closed doors was to remain oblivious to the “noise” surrounding Pochettino. That message remained consistent from the Norwegian when links continued to persist and resurface when results did not go his way.
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“That is just the way it goes. It is not something you even contemplate at all and that’s genuine,” Carrick said. “In a position like this, as a coach or player at United, you can’t be swayed by what is said outside.
“We are professional, focused and believing in what we are doing. It’s not an issue at all. There is a lot of work going on behind the scenes not just putting the first team together.
“Some of the things said or written, it doesn’t effect us. It is the nature of the game. The beauty of being at this place is the scrutiny and expectations. And if you are fortunate to be here a period of time, you get used to it.”
This time around, Pochettino is far from a shoe-in for the job many wanted him to be given back in 2019. Instead of replacing Solskjaer, it is Ralf Rangnick, the interim boss set to move upstairs into a consultancy role, who is doing his job with the backdrop of ongoing talk about his replacement.
