How Man Utd could line up under Pochettino
Martin Macdonald
- 25 Nov 2021 05:52 CST
- 4 min read
Mauricio Pochettino has emerged as Manchester United's number one choice to replace Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on a permanent basis.
The Norwegian was sacked last weekend and Man Utd announced shortly after they would be looking to appoint an interim manager until the end of the season.
Though Pochettino remains the preferred candidate, it will be difficult to steal him away from Paris Saint-Germain in the middle of the season, which is why the club are looking at a temporary appointment.
FootballTransfers has already detailed who is in the frame for the caretaker role.
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If and when Pochettino becomes Man Utd boss, he will need to implement his playing style, which involved high-pressing and big energy.
With the players the club currently have, that may not be possible and it is likely he will like to bring in stars who can match his system.
In the current squad, this is how Pochettino could line up his side.
Man Utd line up under Pochettino (4-2-3-1)
David de Gea is the undisputed number one at Manchester United now despite Dean Henderson feature at points last season.
Despite Harry Maguire's horrendous 2021/22 campaign so far, he remains the club captain and will likely be part of Pochettino's plans, with Luke Shaw and Raphael Varane in defence, too.
As for right-back, Pochettino may desire a change as Aaron Wan-Bissaka continues to disappoint, especially with the ball at his feet.
He has always been poor going forward, but now he has allowed defensive mistakes to creep into his game, and when that happens there's no point in him being there.
Diogo Dalot may not be a long term solution, but he can be one for now.
Pochettino heaped praise on Donny van de Beek after Tottenham played Ajax in the Champions League a couple of years ago, so he is clearly a fan, just like the Man Utd supporters.
The Argentine loves energy in midfield, and if nothing else, Van de Beek provides that, as does Scott McTominay.
Paul Pogba's time at the club appears to be up, so he may be left on the sidelines.
Pochettino wants to play a high-pressing game, and with Cristiano Ronaldo up top that just won't happen, but it is unlikely he will be dropped due to his status.
There are options in attacking midfield, with Jadon Sancho, Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford probably the main contenders for those roles, though Mason Greenwood will the star of the future at centre-forward.
Man Utd line up under Pochettino (3-4-1-2)
Pochettino has also deployed a three-man defence on occasion, particularly at Tottenham.
Should he wish to do this at Old Trafford, it would allow him to deploy Edinson Cavani up top alongside Ronaldo, with the pair having worked together well against Spurs earlier in the season.
Cavani is also the perfect player to implement Poch's pressing game, and it would take the pressure off Ronaldo to do so.
In this formation, though, he would be surrendering creativity in the wide areas as Sancho, Rashford, Greenwood, and Anthony Martial would be on the sidelines.
