As reported by the Metro, former Manchester United player Wayne Rooney has backed Mauricio Pochettino over Erik ten Hag in the race to become the club’s next permanent manager.
Pochettino and Ten Hag are the frontrunners for the job as the Red Devils look to hire a permanent replacement for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer ahead of next season. The club is currently interviewing various possible targets but has not yet made a final decision.
The current Ajax manager is said to have pleased the Old Trafford board during a formal interview, but Rooney believes Pochettino’s Premier League experience gives him the edge over the Ajax manager.
Following successful periods at Southampton and Tottenham, the former Manchester United captain believes the Paris Saint-Germain manager’s knowledge of English football should make him the favorite to land the job at Old Trafford.
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He said: “I think Pochettino has done it in the Premier League, he knows the Premier League. At Tottenham, he brought a lot of young players through, at Southampton as well If I’m choosing from one of the two, that’s who I’d choose. I’d go with Pochettino and give him time. I think managers no, they need time to come in and put their blueprint on the club and the team. If you give him time, I think he’ll do well.”
🗣 "If I'm choosing from one of them two, I'd go Pochettino."
Wayne Rooney backs Mauricio Pochettino over Erik ten Hag as Man United's next manager pic.twitter.com/eJc02heD1i
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) April 4, 2022
Mauricio Pochettino is going through a tough time at PSG this season. The Ligue 1 leaders were knocked out of the UEFA Champions League in the Round of 16 by Real Madrid.
Following that loss, questions over the former Tottenham Hotspur manager’s future at the Parc des Princes increased. Manchester United is said to have interviewed him for the managerial position as he is likely to leave the club this summer.