Ferdinand: Manchester United haven’t spoken to Pochettino

David Lynch

• Updated: 17 May 2021 22:26 BST
• 2 min read

Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has dismissed suggestions that the club have lined up Mauricio Pochettino to replace Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as manager.

It was reported ahead of United’s weekend visit to Everton that a poor result would likely bring an end to Solskjaer’s Old Trafford reign.

And former Tottenham boss Pochettino was alleged to have already been contacted by club officials over succeeding the Norwegian.

However, speaking on his YouTube channel this week, Ferdinand claimed that a ‘really, really, really good source’ had informed him that rumours surrounding Solskjaer’s future were in fact wide of the mark.

The 42-year-old also lavished praise upon a strong United performance that earned them a 3-1 victory at Goodison Park.

• Tottenham statement fuels Kane departure talk as Man Utd and Chelsea circle

He said: “The pressure was absolutely on this team and the management, they went out there and produced.

“In the media, there’s been bit of disrespect to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to be honest.

“People touting about that Pochettino has been spoken to. I’ve got it from a really, really, really good source that there’s been no conversations and they wouldn’t disrespect Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in that manner.

“I feel like that should be addressed. We can all say ‘so and so will be good or better’, that’s just part of the game.

“But to say someone has been spoken to and is coming in imminently, when it’s not true, I think that’s out of order.

“The man is in the job and his team have found a knack of always pulling a result out when they need it and this was no difference, they were solid.”