The FA Cup final could be Erik ten Hag’s last Man Utd game (Photo: Getty)
Paul Merson says he ‘wouldn’t be shocked’ to see Mauricio Pochettino become Manchester United manager soon after tomorrow’s FA Cup final.
United take on rivals Manchester City at Wembley in what many are anticipating will be Erik ten Hag’s last game in charge regardless of the result.
The Red Devils have had one of their worst seasons in their history, finishing eighth in the Premier League and unless they beat the Citizens they will not play in Europe next season.
It has been said that Ten Hag could hang onto his job due to the lack of top-quality replacements available, however that changed earlier this week after Pochettino left Chelsea ‘by mutual consent’.
Though the Argentine underwhelmed somewhat in his single campaign at Stamford Bridge, it is acknowledged that the Blues’ issues behind the scenes are having a big impact on the pitch and he remains highly-regarded.
The former Tottenham and PSG boss was also heavily considered by United in 2022 before hiring Ten Hag instead, and was also previously linked to Nice, whose owners INEOS are now in charge of footballing matters at Old Trafford.
Merson can certainly see the 52-year-old joining United, telling Sportskeeda: ‘Chelsea’s decision to part ways with Mauricio Pochettino has been the talk of the town.
Mauricio Pochettino has left Chelsea after just one season (Photo: Getty)
‘Since the new owners have come in, I’m not sure what’s happening behind the scenes at Chelsea, and the names I’m hearing as Pochettino’s replacements are absolutely mindblowing. What’s going on at that club?
‘He got thrown a load of players he didn’t want, and some of them were even fighting with each other over penalties and not celebrating goals together! Chelsea were also ravaged by injuries, mind you, so I felt he did well to take them to sixth in the Premier League.
‘It remains to be seen who they appoint, but I was shocked to see him go.
Next Manchester United manager odds:
Mauricio Pochettino – 6/5
Kieran McKenna – 7/2
Roberto De Zerbi – 9/2
Thomas Tuchel – 11/2
Gareth Southgate – 7/1
Graham Potter – 14/1
Thomas Frank – 14/1
Odds courtesy of Betfair
‘They [United] need to make up their mind about Erik ten Hag by Monday and think about the next steps, as suddenly, Pochettino is available and was once wanted by INEOS at Nice.
‘I’m not sure how that ended, but I wouldn’t be shocked if they swiftly move for him if they decide to part ways with Ten Hag.’
It has been reported that United have a four-man shortlist should they decide to sack Ten Hag, which includes Pochettino and another former Chelsea boss in the form of Thomas Tuchel who has just left Bayern Munich.
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The other names on the list are Brentford’s Thomas Frank and Ipswich’s Kieran McKenna, with the latter previously assistant manager to Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick.
Both have also been linked with replacing Pochettino at Stamford Bridge.
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