It’s yet another new era at Old Trafford as Man United are set to hire Mauricio Pochettino as their new manager to replace Michael Carrick.
The Argentinian ex-Spurs boss is being lured away from the USA job to return to the Premier League on a reported two-and-a-half-year deal as he’s the latest man to try and bring United back to the promised land since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement.
Pochettino’s teams are known for their high intensity and pressing, something this Man United team has very much lacked this season as they sit in the relegation zone.
With so many managers in recent years, there’s a mismatch in the type of players in this United squad, and some players won’t suit Pochettino’s style; here’s a look at those at risk under the new gaffer.
Five players at risk at Man United under Pochettino
Marcus Rashford
One of the biggest and lasting decisions Michael Carrick made as manager of Man United was the reintegration of Marcus Rashford into the senior team after his loans to Aston Villa and Barcelona.
While he showed flashes very early in the season, he lacked any end product, and he is also out with a groin injury, which he travelled to Dublin to see a specialist about. The Academy graduate has never been known for his work rate off the ball, and with the club moving away from him after his last season and doing well, don’t be surprised if he’s moved away again under Pochettino.
Harry Maguire
Another one of the old guard at Old Trafford, Maguire has seen off eight managers at Man United and after a stellar return to the starting team last season, he could well be on the outside looking in under Pochettino.
As ever with Maguire, United can’t play an aggressive high line with the England man at the back due to his lack of pace. Expect Pochettino to play De Ligt and Martinez as a pairing until reinforcements are brought in.
Joshua Zirkzee
If you list out the strikers Pochettino has had over his career, from Rickie Lambert at Southampton to Harry Kane at Spurs and Nicolas Jackson at Chelsea, he prefers out-and-out strikers, something Zirkzee is not.
Even when he didn’t have Mbappé at PSG, the system didn’t work with the Parisian side with Mbappé at the centre of it. Zirkzee has shown flashes, but a lack of end product puts him at huge risk.
Senne Lammens
This is a tough one, as Lammens has generally been good in his time at Old Trafford, and a goalkeeper certainly won’t be the first port of call for Pochettino, but the Belgian isn’t a perfect fit for the Argentine.
Pochettino has traditionally liked his keepers to sweep behind a high line and be able to play with the ball under pressure, something Lammens has been caught out on a few times this season. If Pochettino stays long-term, expect change.
Bruno Fernandes
This is the one that might hurt United fans the most, but as good as Bruno Fernandes has been over the past 6 (nearly 7) years, the Red Devils could potentially move on from the 32-year-old.
The reigning PFA Player of the Year is an enigma and a rarity in the modern game, a classic 10 who has to be allowed to try the spectacular to get the best out of him. Pochettino needs discipline in the system, something Bruno hasn’t always been the best at, often jumping out of a team press to try to play hero himself, just to be taken out of the game.
However, if the Argentine boss can get Fernandes to work diligently in his system, it could be a great match. However, contract talks have stalled between Fernandes and United, so he may already have one foot out the door.
