Pochettino a decade in Man Utd's making - but Carrick deserves better

What the report says

BBC Sport says Manchester United are moving toward appointing Mauricio Pochettino after a long-running interest in the Argentine, with Michael Carrick expected to leave following a meeting in Monaco. The report frames the prospective change as the latest stage in a relationship that has been discussed around Old Trafford for years, dating back to Pochettino’s public links with Sir Alex Ferguson in 2016 and repeated appearances on United’s managerial shortlists.

According to the article, United’s hierarchy, including part-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox, are overseeing a drawn-out process to finalise Carrick’s exit. BBC Sport says Carrick’s spell has fallen short of expectations, while also noting his professionalism and the awkwardness of the club’s handling of the situation. The piece adds that United’s poor league position reflects broader fan frustration with years of mixed recruitment and management decisions.

The report argues Pochettino would arrive as a compromise option between sentimental appointments and short-term fixes. It points to his record at Tottenham, Chelsea and Paris St-Germain, where he was known for energetic, attacking teams and for improving players, even if his sides did not always deliver major trophies. The article suggests his challenge at United would be to rebuild a struggling squad and restore a more stable identity.

BBC Sport also highlights Pochettino’s existing ties to several United executives and his long-standing admiration for the club, while noting that he is currently coach of the United States. The broader significance is that United appear to be turning once again to a coach they have tracked for nearly a decade in hopes of steadying a damaged project.