Mauricio Pochettino could have his pick of just about any job in football at the moment.
If you believe what the bookmakers say, he’s currently favourite to be the next manager at Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain, and Real Madrid.
But he’s the shortest price of all to be the next manager of Manchester United, and that was true before it was revealed the club have approached him about taking charge at Old Trafford.
In the midst of an international break, it could be the perfect time for the United hierarchy to make a managerial change. It won’t be lost on Pochettino that it was at this time last season that his five-year reign at Tottenham drew to a close.
It’s easy to see why the Argentine would jump at the chance to become the Red Devils' next manager. They are the biggest and arguably most successful club in England, and undoubtedly one of the top names in world football. They can offer the kind of transfer budget that he could only dream of while working for Spurs, too.
But that doesn’t automatically mean that it is the right job for Pochettino based on the squad that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer would bequeath him and how they would align with the methods which brought him success in north London. As you would expect, there are definite pros and cons.
The United squad would be used to playing in Pochettino’s formation of choice. According to Transfermarkt, he sent out Spurs in a 4-2-3-1 formation for 175 of his 293 matches at the helm (59.7% of the total) when never using any other tactical set up more than 25 times.
It’s been a similar story for Solskjaer at the club where he made his name. While he has occasionally gone with three central defenders since the start of last season, there’s no doubt that 4-2-3-1 is his preferred formation. The Norwegian has used it for 58.4% of his matches (per Transfermarkt), a near-identical rate to Pochettino.
However, while the players’ familiarity with the basic system is a plus, it doesn’t mean that the two teams share strengths or similar playing styles. Equally, history suggests Pochettino could take United up a notch on what they are currently trying to do.
He developed Tottenham into one of the most lethal counter-attacking teams around during his time with them. Spurs scored eight league goals on the break in 2017/18, a total that has only been bettered nine times by any Premier League team in the last 11 seasons (per WhoScored).
For all their apparent prowess in this department, United’s total of six counter-attacking goals last season is their joint-best total from 2009/10 onwards. Pochettino’s ability to get the most out of players in this area could prove enormous dividends should he take over at Old Trafford.
There are aspects of Pochettino’s style which would appear to be lacking at United though, not least a ferocious work rate. It was a vital tenet of Tottenham’s success under his management.
Across the last three years as a whole, Tottenham were the 14th best pressing team in one of the continent’s elite leagues (as defined by Statsbomb, and via FBRef). United were only rated as 58th out of the 78 ever-present clubs.
None of which is to say that the Red Devils’ players can’t press, just that they haven’t been. It may take time for Pochettino to get the squad to his required standard.
But then that is what the rest of this season would be for. With United seemingly out of the title picture already, Pochettino could spend the next few months honing the team in his image, to ensure they’re in great shape for 2021/22. And while some aspects of United’s playing staff suit him, there will be plenty of work for him to do.
