USMNT legend Alexi Lalas on Mauricio Pochettino to Man Utd links amidst pressure on Michael Carrick
· Yahoo Sports
After 10 games, Manchester United find themselves in a lowly 18th position in the Premier League heading into the international break. This represents their lowest league standing at this point in the season in 40 years, when the Red Devils sat 20th.
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Unsurprisingly, this has led to heavy speculation surrounding manager Michael Carrick’s future, with the former England international and United legend failing to replicate the success he guided his former side to after initially taking charge on an interim basis in January.
Potential candidates to replace Carrick have been swirling for some weeks, with Unai Emery, Eddie Howe, and Julian Nagelsmann among the more popular names. However, one somewhat surprising candidate to have reemerged of late is current U.S. Men’s National Team boss, Mauricio Pochettino.
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The Argentine had previously been touted as a potential candidate to take charge at Old Trafford, with the 54-year-old possessing plenty of experience in the Premier League at the reins of Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur, and Chelsea.
Having first taken charge of the USMNT in September 2024, he guided the Stars and Stripes to the Round of 16 at this summer’s FIFA World Cup, where they were ultimately knocked out by Belgium. Subsequently, with his contract having come to an end, he wound up signing a new four-year deal.
Now preparing for the USMNT’s CONCACAF Nations League quarter-final double-header against Haiti on November 14 and 17, Pochettino’s future has suddenly become a hot topic once more, prompting ex-USMNT defender turned analyst Alexi Lalas to weigh in.
“Anything is possible,” he wrote on social media. “The talk re Manchester United making a change has often been about availability of a quality replacement. But I suppose everyone is available, all it takes is money. If Pochettino goes...he goes. USSF knew the possibility when they re-signed him.”
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Lalas was subsequently asked why he would consider the move, given the pressure he’d immediately find himself under in Manchester. “Despite its precipitous decline, it's still Manchester United,” Lalas replied. “Someone is eventually going to restore the brand (on the field), and they will build statues to that person. Also, international coaching is inherently limited and limiting. Many coaches miss the day-to-day of a club.”
Should Pochettino opt to swap the USMNT for United, he’d be stepping into a club not just struggling on the league front with an injury-ravaged team - which has arguably been held back by poor recruitment for some time - but also on the cup front. Already knocked out of the EFL Cup, United sit 17th in the UEFA Champions League table after two wins and two defeats - including a recent 4-1 loss at Como and a dramatic comeback win against AS Roma.
Once the international break is over, next up is a trip to Anfield to take on rivals Liverpool before they head to Portugal, where they’ll face Sporting CP.