‘I don’t know why Manchester United would be waiting for him’ — Paul Merson slams Manchester United’s managerial choice

Arsenal legend, Paul Merson, has told Manchester United not to appoint Mauricio Pochettino as their next manager, as he named two alternatives to the former Tottenham boss.

United will look to appoint a permanent successor to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at the end of the season, when interim manager, Ralf Rangnick takes up a considerable role with the club.

Pochettino is among the favorites for the job, with Erik ten Hag and Luis Enrique also contenders, but Merson doesn’t think the PSG boss is a good fit.

He told Sky Sports, “I don’t understand why Manchester United would be waiting for Mauricio Pochettino. I don’t get it. If Pochettino doesn’t win the Champions League with Paris Saint-Germain, why would they be going in for him?

“You’ve got to remember he failed to win the French league last year, too. That’s virtually impossible to do. Everybody keeps saying they need to go out and get Pochettino but I don’t understand why.

“It does my head in. It’s all I ever hear. What did he do? He got Tottenham to the final of the Champions League and his side finished third one year in the Premier League.

“PSG have appointed him to win the Champions League, but I don’t give PSG a chance of doing it this year so I’m not sure what the obsession is with Pochettino.”

Merson thinks United should be looking closer to home in their search, with Leicester City boss, Brendan Rodgers and Brighton’s Graham Potter also linked with the job.

He added: “Football is all about timing. If Leicester were second in the Premier League right now and still in the cups, Brendan Rodgers would be the bookmakers’ favourite to be the next manager of Man Utd.

“If I was in charge at United, I’d be going for Rodgers or Graham Potter now. People are still caught up on the Pochettino of seven years ago. If that’s the case, why isn’t everyone going for Claudio Ranieri again?

“He won the league in 2016, Pochettino didn’t. He took Tottenham as far as he could, and then you’ve got someone like Rodgers who has done a far better job than what Pochettino did.

“He only lost the league at Liverpool because of a slip. Now, he doesn’t even get a mention.”