How PSG-Madrid showdown impacts Man Utd's managerial search

Martin Macdonald

• Updated: 23 May 2023 08:55 CDT
• 3 min read

The biggest glamour tie of the Champions League last-16 stage sees Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain face off for a spot in the quarter-finals.

On Tuesday evening, the first leg of the time took place in Paris and it was the home side who emerged victorious 1-0 thanks to a solitary goal from Kylian Mbappe.

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Mbappe, who is widely expected to actually join Real Madrid from PSG this summer.

PSG dominated proceedings for the most part, with Los Blancos arguably lucky to escape with just one goal conceded.

Though the second leg is still to come and Real Madrid could turn the tie around, the result and performance from PSG could actually have consequences for Manchester United.

The Red Devils currently have Ralf Rangnick in charge on a caretaker basis until the end of the current season following the disappointing tenure of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Man Utd are looking at a number of managerial options for the summer including Pochettino, Erik ten Hag, Zinedine Zidane and Brendan Rodgers.

But, one man might be taken off that list if Real Madrid have a say.

Madrid to go for Pochettino?

Pochettino is currently the favourite to take over at Old Trafford in the summer, but Man Utd might need to assess their other options.

According to the Independent, Real Madrid president Florentino Perez was not happy with head coach Carlo Ancelotti for the manner of the defeat against PSG on Tuesday, while at the same time being impressed by how Pochettino's side played.

The Spanish giants could attempt to scupper any Man Utd plans to appoint Pochettino by making their own offer to the Argentine, who is reportedly keen to leave PSG.

Like with the role at Man Utd, Pochettino has been linked with the Real Madrid job in the past following his performance as manager of Tottenham.

Perez is reportedly open to the idea of replacing Ancelotti with Pochettino as early as this summer.

That will mean Man Utd losing out on Pochettino, with Ten Hag or Rodgers the likely candidates to emerge as the new favourite.