May 24th 2024.
It's a big day for Manchester United fans as they eagerly await the FA Cup final against rivals Manchester City at Wembley. But there's also a lot of speculation surrounding manager Erik ten Hag and his future at the club. Some are saying that this could be his last game in charge, regardless of the result.
It's been a tough season for the Red Devils, with their worst finish in Premier League history and the possibility of not playing in Europe next season if they don't beat City. Many believe that Ten Hag could hold onto his job due to the lack of top-quality replacements available. However, that all changed earlier this week when Mauricio Pochettino left Chelsea "by mutual consent."
Pochettino, who previously managed Tottenham and PSG, was heavily considered by United in 2022 before they ultimately hired Ten Hag. He was also linked to Nice, whose owners INEOS are now in charge of footballing matters at Old Trafford. With Pochettino now available, there's speculation that he could be the next United manager.
Paul Merson, a former player and current football analyst, says he "wouldn't be shocked" to see Pochettino take over at United soon after the FA Cup final. He believes that Chelsea's decision to part ways with Pochettino, after just one season, is "the talk of the town." Merson also questions what's happening behind the scenes at Chelsea and the "mindblowing" names being thrown around as Pochettino's replacements. He acknowledges that Pochettino had a challenging season at Chelsea, with injuries and players who didn't get along, but still managed to finish sixth in the Premier League.
The odds for Pochettino to become the next United manager are currently at 6/5, with other potential candidates including Kieran McKenna, Roberto De Zerbi, Thomas Tuchel, Gareth Southgate, Graham Potter, and Thomas Frank. Merson believes that United need to make a decision about Ten Hag soon, as Pochettino is now available and was previously wanted by INEOS at Nice.
It's been reported that United have a four-man shortlist if they decide to sack Ten Hag, with Pochettino and another former Chelsea boss, Thomas Tuchel, among the names. The other two on the list are Brentford's Thomas Frank and Ipswich's Kieran McKenna, who has previously been an assistant manager at United.
It's an exciting and uncertain time for United fans as they wait to see what the future holds for their club. But one thing is for sure, the FA Cup final against City will be an intense and highly-anticipated match.
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