Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s position at Manchester United was already growing unstable - and then he went and lost to Istanbul Basaksehir.Wins over Paris Saint-Germain and RB Leipzig in the Champions League were encouraging, but it’s been a case of one step forward and two steps back for the club this season.They’ve collected one point out of a possible 12 at home in the Premier League and have shipped 13 goals in six league matches.That’s… not good.It’s hard to imagine that Mauricio Pochettino wouldn’t be interested in the role should it become available, and the Manchester Evening News reported on Wednesday that United have made an approach for the Argentinian coach.
The Athletic later reported that Solskjaer will keep his job even if United lose to Everton on Saturday.But with Pochettino still available after a year out, Solskjaer must be feeling the heat.In order to replace him, however, United’s executive vice-chairman will need to break a club policy introduced by the Glazer family.As reported by the Independent, the rule states that a manager cannot be sacked until qualification for the Champions League is mathematically impossible.It led to David Moyes almost seeing out a full season before he was fired in 2014, while Dutchman Louis van Gaal lasted two full years.
Jose Mourinho was sacked in December 2018 but an exception was made for him because the atmosphere had become ‘toxic’ under the Portuguese coach.So if Woodward wants to bring Pochettino in now, he’ll have to get the Glazers to agree to wipe their rule.It seems worth it. Pochettino is a world-class manager who sounds eager to get back into football."I always feel ready to be involved in the game again," he said on Monday Night Football this week. "I love football, it's my passion, it's my job."I am looking for work. I love the game. I'm working and doing things but it's not the same as being involved every single day and sharing with your players and staff. You miss that, that's the reality."It's not stressful when you are working. It's not stressful to go into the training ground, to prepare the team, to compete."
United must be aware that if they don’t act soon, they could miss out on him.