Man Utd legend forsees impact Pochettino would have as Old Trafford boss

Former Manchester United player Gary Neville believes that if Mauricio Pochettino was to take over from Jose Mourinho as the boss at Old Trafford, that he would make wholesale changes.

The Sky Sports pundit believes that it has become difficult to watch United under the leadership of Mourinho as his style of football is not suited to the expectations of the fans.

Pochettino has been linked with a move to United in the past, but there is absolutely no chance that he will be leaving Tottenham Hotspur any time soon after signing a new five-year contract with the club in May.

Neville has compared Pochettino’s high pressing style of football to Mourino’s contrasting method of sitting deep.

As far as we are concerned, Neville can dream on. Poch is going nowhere.

He told the Second Captain’s podcast: “Ajax, Manchester United and Barcelona are the three bastions of European football in terms of style of play,”

“United have always played 4-4-1-1, 4-4-2, with two wide players. It’s ingrained in the club. Don’t change, don’t make short-term decisions.

“The fans weren’t happy, the stadium was starting to have empty seats and then they think, ‘right, we need to win’ and they bring in Jose Mourinho, who likes powerful, robust, strong players.

“Out went nearly all those 11 and Mourinho brings in Lukaku, Matic, Fred, Bailly, a wave of players who suit his style.

“Mourinho is happy to sit back a bit deeper and have a more robust, physical player. As a Manchester United fan it’s painful to watch.

“Let’s say Mauricio Pochettino comes in next – he likes hungry 23, 24-year-olds, he likes pushing up the pitch and playing high, he likes players who can press from the front. How many Manchester United forwards do you see that run about like the Tottenham ones?”