How Ferguson-inspired Pochettino can succeed where Carrick failed at Man Utd
Pochettino a decade in Man Utd's making - but Carrick deserves better Michael Carrick's United produced a series of good results to finish last season with a run unmatched by any other team in the league.
- "Sir Alex Ferguson, Sir Alex Ferguson, Sir Alex Ferguson," replied Pochettino, who on Friday was named Manchester United manager.
- Maurucio Pochettino (right) was first mentioned as a contender to manage Manchester United when Louis van Gaal was sacked in May 2016 [Getty Images] When Mauricio Pochettino was asked the three Premier League managers he would have loved to have played for, he was unequivocal.
- "And when you can share two hours with a person who was the greatest manager in the history of football, you can only enjoy." Hiring United managers has been complicated since Ferguson's departure in 2013, and one of the most prominent complications has been a back-and-forth around the club's DNA.
Former players under Sir Alex Ferguson, both Ole Gunnar Solskjar and Michael Carrick leaned into United’s historic style when crafting their game-models [Getty Images] Pochettino gives United an interesting solution to this problem.
With Mauricio Pochettino set to become Man Utd manager, we analyse if he can clear the tactical hurdles others haven't.
- In recent years, United's managerial merry-go-round has alternated between European coaches with their own fixed styles of play, and former players from the Ferguson era.
- But between his tactics of choice and his adoration for the former United boss, Pochettino may be uniquely placed to bridge the gap between both camps.
- Building up in this manner, to entice and escape from pressure, before looking to find the forwards quickly, was the plan Carrick was working towards.
- This didn't come to fruition and trying to take United from a successful counter-attacking side to one that could reliably beat teams while keeping the ball was the same hurdle that undid Ole Gunnar Solskjar and Erik ten Hag.
- If you wanted an immediate comparison in the Premier League to a coach who resembles Pochettino's ideas in possession, it would be worth looking at Liverpool's Andoni Iraola, who similarly cites Bielsa as his reference.
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