Pochettino addresses historic Manchester United speculation

Mauricio Pochettino says he made sure he did not talk openly to the media about the links to the managerial job at Manchester United.

The Argentine, who recently succeeded Thomas Tuchel at Paris Saint-Germain, says he was conscious not to be seen as touting himself around after his dismissal at Tottenham.

The 48-year-old appeared on Monday Night Football in November and he was guarded on his immediate fiture.

He was continually linked with the Manchester United hotseat. That speculation came to the fore again before Christmas after an indifferent start to the season for the Red Devils.

Indeed, speaking as a guest on Sky Sports recently, he said: “I am looking forward to be involved in the game, I love the game,” Pochettino said.

“We are inside, working, but it’s not the same as being involved every day. Working with your staff, working with players – always you miss that, that’s the reality.

“I love football, it’s my passion, not my job. It’s not a stress to work in football. It is not a stress to go to training. It’s not a stress to prepare the team. It’s not a stress to compete.”

The Manchester Evening News claimed Pochettino was viewed as the ideal candidate to replace Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had the Norwegian been axed.


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‘I didn’t need to have media visibility’

However, the Norwegian turned around United’s fortunes and recently guided them to the top of the table.

Now Pochettino has addressed the speculation and says he didn’t need to speak because his profile was so high anyway.

“I didn’t want anyone to think that I speak because I do not have a job and maybe, I’m offering myself,” he told AS. “The good thing about that situation was that every morning you woke up in a different club. One day they placed you at Madrid, another at United… At PSG…

“That’s why I didn’t need to have that media visibility. I had it without wanting it. I was a bit lucky in that regard. They linked my name to different clubs and the exposure came spontaneously.

“I was travelling virtually from one club to another. Surely when you talk, it has some basis, but for it to be done for real, as with PSG, ties have to be closed.”

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