Manchester United are approaching a crucial decision over their managerial future. Club executives are reviewing Michael Carrick’s position during the international break, with the team sitting in the Premier League relegation zone after ten matches. Mauricio Pochettino has emerged as one of the leading contenders to take over. The 54-year-old is currently in charge of the United States national team but could be tempted by a return to English football.
Carrick’s future hangs in the balance
One win, five draws and four defeats: Manchester United have collected just eight points from their opening ten matches, their worst start to a Premier League season in decades. The club sit 18th in the table and have gone eight league games without a victory. Most recently, they twice recovered from two goals down to salvage a dramatic 4-4 draw against Aston Villa.
Defensive frailties have been particularly damaging. United have already conceded 19 goals and are yet to keep a single clean sheet in the league this season. At the other end, their attack has rarely convinced, scoring just 14 times.
Carrick initially took charge on an interim basis in January before earning a contract until 2028 following an impressive run of results in the spring. The former United midfielder now finds himself under mounting pressure.
Director of football Jason Wilcox and chief executive Omar Berrada are expected to assess the situation alongside co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe. According to reports in the English media, the club’s leadership is moving towards recommending Carrick’s dismissal. No final decision has yet been announced.
Pochettino under contract with the United States until 2030
Mauricio Pochettino took charge of the United States national team in September 2024 and guided the Americans to the last 16 of the 2026 World Cup on home soil. In August, the US Soccer Federation unexpectedly extended his contract until 2030.
The Argentine was also handed additional responsibilities for the country’s long-term football development. Alongside managing the senior national team, Pochettino and his staff are expected to contribute to youth development and coach education.
Securing his services would therefore be expensive for Manchester United. His contract reportedly contains a release clause worth around $10 million. Further compensation payments could be required if he wanted to bring his long-standing coaching staff to Old Trafford. One of his closest associates is assistant coach Jesús Pérez, who has worked alongside him for many years.
United and Pochettino: A long-standing connection
Pochettino has extensive experience at the highest level of English football. He established his reputation at Southampton with an attacking approach and a strong commitment to developing young players before taking charge of Tottenham Hotspur in 2014.
At Spurs, he built a team that regularly qualified for the Champions League and reached the final in 2019. Players such as Harry Kane, Dele Alli and Son Heung-min flourished under his management.
Pochettino subsequently won the French league title with Paris Saint-Germain. He returned to England in 2023 to manage Chelsea, guiding the club to sixth place after a difficult first half of the season.
Manchester United have considered appointing the Argentine on several previous occasions. He was among the candidates for the job in 2022, when United ultimately opted for Erik ten Hag. Pochettino himself has repeatedly expressed a desire to return to the Premier League at some stage of his career.
What kind of football would Pochettino bring to Old Trafford?
Pochettino’s teams have traditionally been characterised by aggressive pressing, quick ball recoveries and dynamic attacking play. At Tottenham, he frequently favoured a 4-2-3-1 formation that shifted into a 4-4-2 without possession.
One of the defining features of his approach is the attacking involvement of his full-backs. They push high to provide width, allowing the attacking midfielders to move inside into the half-spaces. This creates additional passing options between opposition lines.
When pressing, Pochettino wants his forwards to put opposition centre-backs under immediate pressure and disrupt their build-up play. After losing possession, his teams look to win the ball back quickly through coordinated counter-pressing.
At Manchester United, however, his first priority would have to be improving the defensive organisation. The 19 goals conceded underline just how easily opponents have been able to exploit United’s weaknesses. The 4-4 draw against Aston Villa was a particularly striking example, with United conceding twice in quick succession early in each half.
A more aggressive pressing game could help disrupt opposition attacks higher up the pitch. But that would require better coordination between the different units and more reliable defensive cover behind players pushing forward.
Pochettino would also need to find solutions in attack. First-choice striker Benjamin Šeško is sidelined through injury until the new year. Establishing a more effective attacking structure would therefore be just as important as making United more secure defensively.
Could a decision come during the international break?
Alongside Pochettino, Eddie Howe and Julian Nagelsmann have also been mentioned as potential replacements. United’s decision-makers must not only determine Carrick’s future but also establish which candidates would be available to take charge at short notice.
Pochettino is due to lead the United States in two Nations League matches against Haiti on 14 and 17 November. An immediate move to Manchester United would therefore require swift negotiations with the US Soccer Federation.
United’s next fixture is away to Liverpool on 22 November. Whether Carrick will still be in the dugout at Anfield, or a successor will already have been appointed, should become clearer in the coming days.
