Sir Alex Ferguson has a No 1 choice for the next Manchester United manager should the Premier League club axe Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, according to reports.
The under-fire Solskjaer is facing mounting pressure over his United future after Liverpool’s thumping 5-0 win over the Red Devils at Old Trafford on Sunday.
The 48-year-old Norwegian manager is expected to remain in charge of United for his side’s clash with Spurs at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday.
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However, some United players have reportedly turned on Solskjaer and believe that he is the ‘issue’ after the club’s lacklustre start to the Premier League season.
Ferguson is still backing Solskjaer at United, despite the ex-Molde and Cardiff City boss reportedly having three matches to save his managerial career at Old Trafford.
According to The Daily Star, the legendary former United manager has identified Mauricio Pochettino as the No 1 choice to replace Solskjaer should he be sacked.
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Ferguson is believed to be a ‘huge admirer’ of the Paris Saint-Germain head coach, who is under contract with the Ligue 1 side until 2023.
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Pochettino spent five years at Tottenham and led the club to second in the 2016-17 Premier League season.
The Argentine also led Spurs to the finals of the League Cup and the Champions League, but he failed to lift silverware with the club before he was sacked in 2019.
Pochettino, who was heavily linked with United in the past, succeeded Thomas Tuchel back in January and led PSG to second place in Ligue 1 last season.
However, the former Tottenham manager renewed his PSG contract in July and his side are leading defending French champions Lille by 13 points this season.
Ex-Inter Milan head coach Antonio Conte and Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers have both emerged as potential candidates to succeed Solskjaer.
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But The Daily Star claims that United are on the same wavelength as Ferguson, with Pochettino considered the club’s No 1 target.
Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher has suggested that United are “terrified” of sacking Solskjaer and replacing him with another Louis van Gaal or Jose Mourinho-esque figure.
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Speaking after Liverpool’s win, he told Sky Sports: “Manchester United are terrified to make a change.
“They’re terrified to bring someone in like they did with Van Gaal and Mourinho and it’s not a Manchester United guy.
“I think for the Manchester United board right now, I don’t think it’s a case of staying strong, I think it’s a case of actually panicking.”
Featured Image Credit: PATopics: Sir Alex Ferguson, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Mauricio Pochettino, Manchester United, Premier League, England, Football