Rio Ferdinand predicts Mauricio Pochettino will become Manchester United’s next boss, but not until the end of the season… and backs former Old Trafford assistant Carlos Queiroz as strong interim choice
- Mauricio Pochettino is keen on taking over at Manchester United mid-season
- Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was sacked the day after the 4-1 defeat against Watford
- Pochettino, the current PSG manager, is among the favourites to replace him
- Rio Ferdinand believes he will take over, but not until the end of the campaign
- He has also singled out Carlos Queiroz as a potential caretaker option for United
Rio Ferdinand believes that Manchester United will appoint current PSG boss Mauricio Pochettino as their new manager, but not until the summer.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was sacked at the weekend after the 4-1 defeat at Watford, and Michael Carrick – part of the previous coaching staff – has taken over temporarily.
During his stint in charge, United will look to appoint a caretaker boss until the end of the season, although Pochettino has quickly emerged as a potential candidate.
Mauricio Pochettino will become Manchester United’s next boss, Rio Ferdinand has predicted
Sportsmail revealed that Pochettino, the former Tottenham coach, is interested in quitting Paris and taking up the vacancy at Old Trafford mid-season.
Ferdinand, however, believes that this move will only happen in several months – and has tipped a left-field candidate to fill in until then.
‘I don’t think that Pochettino leaves PSG during the season,’ he said on Vibe with FIVE. ‘He’s a man of integrity, he’s a man of respect.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was axed after the Watford loss, and Pochettino is favourite to take over
Ferdinand believes Pochettino, the current PSG coach, will take over at the end of the season
‘I think he’s grateful for the opportunity to be at PSG and as a man, I think he’ll just say: “If they want me that bad they’ll wait.”
‘I think from the media that we saw over the last couple of years when he was out of work, that for him Man United is the pinnacle, is the club he’d love to get to, get his hands on and guide the club.
‘He’s got a lot of stuff going on at PSG so you have to be respectful in that sense.
‘It’s about what PSG want as well because they’re not the kind of club that will just relinquish their manager.
Pochettino is willing to quit PSG now after wrestling with big egos, and join United mid-season
‘I’m putting money on Pochettino, for the end of the season, start of next season, my money’s on Pochettino being manager.’
It is understood that Pochettino is unhappy with life in France, with his family still living in London while he is staying at a Paris hotel.
He has also experienced difficulties marshalling the big dressing room egos at his current club – like Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe.
A number of other managers have been tipped to take the United helm until the end of the season, including Carrick, former player Laurent Blanc and Ralf Rangnick.
Carlos Queiroz, the former United assistant, was name dropped as a potential United interim
But Ferdinand has picked out another candidate, having name dropped former United assistant Carlos Queiroz as a potential pick.
‘What about Carlos Quieroz?’ he said. ‘I think if Man United come calling for someone like Carlos Quieroz he drops whatever he’s doing.’
Currently, Queiroz, 68, is managing Egypt. He spent two stints at United as a coach under Sir Alex Ferguson, and has also managed Portugal, Iran and Colombia.
