Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino has not ruled himself out of contention for the Manchester United job. The Spurs boss still has four-and-a-half years to run on the £170,000-a-week contract which he signed with the club in the summer.
But he has been installed as one of the bookies’ favourites to take over at Old Trafford following the shock sacking of Jose Mourinho this morning. And the Argentine, 46, is resigned to living with the constant speculation linking him with the job after GGary Neville declared: “Pochettino is the ideal candidate for United.” Pochettino said today: “In nearly five years at Tottenham, there has been a lot of rumours about my position as manager here. What more do I need to say? I cannot answer these questions. What happens at another club is not my business. I am so focused to deliver our best job at this club. From day one, there have been rumours about the players, the coaching staff and the manager. I respect everyone’s opinion, when people praise me and when they are criticising me. That is how it is now and I accept that. I accept the rumours when they’re positive and when they’re negative. That is part of our business.”
But Pochettino insisted that he was sorry to see Mourinho leaving United and said: “I want to send the best wishes to him. You know I have a very good relationship with him. He is a good friend and I feel so sorry for what has happened.” United swung the axe on Mourinho, 55, following Sunday’s embarrassing 3-1 defeat at Liverpool. The Portuguese leaves Old Trafford with a £24million pay-off – with the club languishing in sixth place in the Premier League and 19 points behind Jurgen Klopp’s leaders.
Photo Credit: Getty
