Ten Hag vs Pochettino: Who Should United Go For?

At present, there are two names on the minds of Manchester United fans following the sacking of club legend Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the aftermath of a poor run of form that has seen them pick up just four points in their last seven games following their humiliating 4-1 defeat at Watford in the Premier League.

Following reports that Zinedine Zidane and Luis Enrique have ruled themselves out of the role, with the Frenchman unsure about taking a job with such high pressures and demands, whilst the latter is settled as Spain manager, we take a look at Ajax manager Erik ten Hag and PSG boss Mauricio Pochettino who are the two most desired names for the vacant managerial role at Old Trafford of those that are available.

Current Ajax manager ten Hag is one of the most coveted names in world football despite having never managed in one of Europe’s top five leagues. However, the 51-year-old’s work at the Dutch Eredivisie side has not gone unnoticed, having made it on the global stage by reaching the Champions League semi-finals in 2019 and having won the league and cup twice in four seasons, with one of the seasons being curtailed early whilst Ajax were at the top of the table, meaning that they weren’t given the chance to win the division.

So far this season, Ajax are top of the Dutch top-flight and look like favourites once again to retain their crown, as they have 30 points from 13 matches, level with PSV, but their goal difference stands at 40, having scored 42 and conceded on just two occasions. The four-time Champions League winners have also taken Group C by storm, winning all four matches, including the 4-0 hammering of Borussia Dortmund at the Johan Cruyff Arena.

Something that would be a key factor in United fans wanting the Dutchman, is the fact that Ajax play attractive and cohesive football, whilst developing academy players and younger signings, such as Frenkie de Jong, Donny van de Beek, Hakim Ziyech and Matthijs De Ligt, what is important for the Old Trafford fan base, is that they have a manager that embodies the United way of playing and the philosophies of the club that have gone before them, hence why ten Hag is highly regarded.

Prior to his time at Ajax, ten Hag impressed at Go Ahead Eagles under Mark Overmars who he now works with, having a 46% win rate, before going to Bayern Munich II where he also had a good win rate of 67% win percentage. Before joining Ajax ten Hag was at Utrecht for which he played a season for between 1995 and 1996, he rejoined his old club in May 2015, staying there until December 2017, winning 56 of his 111 games in charge.

PSG coach Pochettino has been linked with United at the end of previous managerial tenures, specifically after Jose Mourinho’s sacking following their 3-1 loss at Liverpool in December 2018 which saw Solskjaer step in as manager and go on a terrific run of form that saw the Norwegian be rewarded with a contract for the job itself, during that time the Argentinian manager lead Spurs to their first-ever Champions League final.

The 49-year-old has been known for transforming the fortunes of sides that he has managed, as he initially started at former club Espanyol in January 2009, as he was tasked with saving the club from relegation that season with them lying at the bottom of La Liga in a precarious position. Pochettino achieved this before guiding them to a comfortable mid-table finish the next campaign, however, in November 2012, following a poor start to the season following significant financial restrictions being placed on him, he left the Barcelona based club.

In January 2013, the Argentinian then took over at Southampton as the Saints looked to fight relegation in their first season back in the Premier League since 2004/05. Under Pochettino, Southampton comfortably consolidated their position and even recorded an eight-placed finish in his first full campaign at the club in 2013/14, their highest since 2002/03, as well as putting 56 points on the table, their highest since 1992/93, finishing just eight points behind United who had struggled under the David Moyes regime.

His successes earned him a chance to become Spurs manager who were aiming to reach the Champions League on a regular basis, having previously done so under Harry Redknapp. Pochettino rebuilt the Lilywhites squad by promoting Harry Kane and developing stars such as Dele Alli and took them to unlikely title challengers on two separate occasions, finishing in the top four in four out of five of Pochettino’s full seasons at the club and even made it to a Champions League final on a limited budget in 2019.

At this moment in time, with Pochettino reportedly willing to leave his role at PSG to join United, the Argentinian would arguably the one to go for, as his desire to manage United is blatantly obvious, which instantly would make him at hit with the fans. The Murphy-born manager could ultimately save the club’s current campaign and get a head start on his work, whereas United may have to go through a turbulent remainder of the campaign to wait for ten Hag.

Both managers have impressive styles of play, as they both like high pressing, cohesive attacking performances, whilst promoting youth prospects to their first team. Having shown his capabilities in the Premier League and overperforming with the likes of Southampton and Tottenham, this will give Pochettino an advantage, as he already understands the landscape of the English game and if he was to sign the right targets in the summer transfer window, could see United mount a good title challenge in their bid to be league champions for the first time since 2013, ironically, the same year he moved to the Premier League in.

It is no secret that ‘Poch’ is admired highly amongst United’s board and has a good relationship with Sir Alex Ferguson, having been seen with the Scot in Manchester last May, which could ultimately give him an advantage in getting the role.