After weeks of ongoing speculation, it appears as though Mauricio Pochettino is going to be the chosen manager to take the reins at Manchester United.
Michael Carrick still remains in the position at Old Trafford, but his departure seems a formality given the situation that has unfolded over the last couple of hours.
There’s no doubt the Argentine will have a huge task on his hands, but it could provide the fresh start that could reignite the Red Devils’ chances of securing success in 2026/27.
Which United players could benefit from Pochettino’s arrival?
Upon his arrival, Pochettino will undoubtedly want to make changes to the United squad, but with the window closed until January, he will have to get the best out of the players currently available.
Matheus Cunha is one player who could benefit from the Argentine’s arrival, with the Brazilian the player best suited to the left-wing position in his 4-2-3-1 system.
Such a role saw Heung-min Son thrive under his guidance at Tottenham Hotspur, which saw the South Korean international develop into one of the division’s highest talents.
The aforementioned position demands players to cut inside onto their right foot – a characteristic that has been evident in the Brazilian’s game during his spell at Old Trafford.
However, he’s not the only player who would benefit from the 54-year-old’s appointment, with full-back Patrick Dorgu potentially playing a vital role in his attacking system.
The manager’s philosophy demands his wide defenders often make overlapping runs to exploit the space left by the wingers – who are told to cut inside the pitch.
As a result, the Dane’s marauding nature from defensive areas could make him a superb fit for the new boss in his hunt for immediate success at Old Trafford.
Why big-money United star could be Poch’s next Kane
During his previous spell in the Premier League at Spurs, Pochettino often relied on talisman Harry Kane to provide the goods within attacking areas of the pitch.
During his 167 appearances playing under the Argentine, the current Ballon d’Or holder registered an impressive tally of 122 goals and also laid on 18 assists for his teammates.
|
Harry Kane PL record under Pochettino |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Season |
Appearances |
Goals |
Assists |
|
2014/15 |
34 |
21 |
4 |
|
2015/16 |
38 |
25 |
1 |
|
2016/17 |
30 |
29 |
7 |
|
2017/18 |
37 |
30 |
2 |
|
2018/19 |
28 |
17 |
4 |
|
Total |
167 |
122 |
18 |
Such a tally was by far and away the highest of any player at his disposal, with the Englishman registering 20 or more goals in all but one of his seasons under Poch.
As a result, the 54-year-old will desperately want his next version of the Bayern Munich star in Manchester – and he could have exactly that with Marcus Rashford.
The 29-year-old, who earns a reported £325k-per-week, has certainly been unable to match Kane’s goalscoring exploits in his own career, but he’s still been a constant source of goals in recent years.
The attacker has registered 20 or more goals in three seasons for the Red Devils, with his best campaign undoubtedly coming in 2022/23 – as he registered 30 goals in 56 outings.
However, he has emulated the former Spurs man in coming through the youth ranks of his boyhood club and ultimately developing into a consistent first-team option.
Rashford has just been lacking the confidence to allow him to explode and deliver the goals for United on a consistent basis. But that could come during his time working with Pochettino.
The Argentine has previously heaped praise on the Englishman, stating in 2022: “I’ve always liked him, I knew of his process because I was in England, but I think he’s a great player.
“He just needs the confidence and for himself to believe, to put him at the top level. The quality is there for him.”
Such comments could well see Rashford become a regular starter during the 54-year-old’s tenure, with the boss evidently having a lot of faith in the forward to deliver the goods.
Rashford has always been a confidence player, and the opportunity to have a manager who can put his arm round him could well hand him the platform needed for success.
He will have a long way to go before he gets anywhere near the levels established by Kane under the manager, but there’s no reason why he can’t be the next talisman to emerge when working with Poch.
In turn, any uplift in form will bode well for United, who have desperately been lacking a consistent presence in front of goal during the last few weeks of Carrick’s spell in charge.
