Mark Hughes urges his former club Manchester United to appoint Mauricio Pochettino NOW… but also throws his hat into the ring to become interim manager if they can’t land the PSG boss
- Mark Hughes has urged Manchester United to go and get Mauricio Pochettino
- United are searching for a new manager after sacking Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
- The Red Devils want Pochettino and it’s hoped he could be lured away from PSG
- But if United appoint an interim manager, Hughes says he would be interested
Former Manchester United star Mark Hughes has urged his former club to go and get Mauricio Pochettino now, but also threw his hat into the ring to become interim manager if they cannot get the Argentine until the summer.
The Red Devils are currently looking for a new manager after sacking Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on Sunday.
The club initially announced they wanted an interim boss in charge until appointing a permanent successor at the end of the season, however it’s hoped that Pochettino could be lured away from Paris Saint-Germain now.
Ex-Man United star Mark Hughes has urged his former club to go and get Mauricio Pochettino
Pochettino has been a long-term target and it’s hoped he could be lured away from PSG now
United are searching for a new manager after sacking Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (left) with Michael Carrick (right) taking charge of first-team affairs temporarily
Michael Carrick, who was on Solskjaer’s coaching staff, will take charge of first-team affairs until a new manager is found.
Hughes, who has been out of work since being sacked by Southampton in 2018, believes United should do all they can to hire Pochettino now and not go down the interim route.
He told talkSPORT: ‘I think for a long time United have coveted Pochettino.
‘I think they’ve wined and dined him, I think he’s been out with Sir Alex. I think that was well documented a few years ago.
‘I think he’s well thought of within the corridors of United, so it wouldn’t surprise me if he’s the one they really want.
‘Whether or not he’s able to come to the club quickly, that’s an issue for them.
‘In terms of resources, to be able to get a top manager out of a top club, clearly United are one of the few clubs that are able to do that.
‘I think if he’s the man, they should just go out and go get him. This interim to interim position doesn’t seem to be the right way to go about it.
‘But clearly, if they have to wait, they seem prepared to do that. I just feel it’s Pochettino that they really, really want.’
Hughes made 276 appearances and scored 99 goals for Manchester United during his career
But if United cannot get Pochettino now and are forced to hire an interim manager then Hughes, who made 276 appearances and scored 99 goals for United, says he would be interested in the position.
Former United player and ex-Newcastle manager Steve Bruce is reportedly also keeping an eye on developments at Old Trafford.
‘It’s an opportunity to go into the greatest club in world football, in my view,’ he told Sky Sports.
‘Those opportunities, you don’t allow them to pass you by whatever the circumstances, or whatever boundaries you’re set.
‘At the end of the day you look at the group you have to work with and they’re a very, very talented group of players.
‘Any manager worth his salt would take a look at that group and think “yeah, maybe I can get a better tune out of them”.
‘There’s a lot of people at United who have my number and I haven’t had a call yet.
‘It’s a great position, one that a lot of managers would be very interested in, myself included.’
