Mauricio Pochettino has admirers at Man Utd and Manchester City and could be at the centre of a battle for his services
Mauricio Pochettino could find himself at the centre of a battle between the blue and red halves of Manchester when the time comes to leave Tottenham.
Both Manchester United and Manchester City are just beginning their respective journeys with Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola – but neither club could have failed to notice the revolution underway at White Hart Lane.
Pochettino was already being talked about as an alternative to Mourinho when United were considering a replacement for Louis van Gaal during the tail end of last season.
And should he deliver trophies to go along with the admirers he’s collected at Spurs then he could find himself one of the hottest properties in Europe by the time he ends his reign in north London.
The likelihood is that his opportunities will extend beyond Manchester, with the anticipation from some at Spurs that Barcelona and Real Madrid will present the biggest test of their resolve to keep hold of the Argentine.
And that’s before England even come into the equation.
Sunday’s victory against City underlined the impressive work done by Pochettino.
No one has managed to make Guardiola’s Premier League leaders look second best in so many departments.
The City manager was brutally honest in his appraisal afterwards admitting his side ‘lost every fight.’
Guardiola had been fulsome in his praise of Pochettino beforehand, claiming the fan in him would want to watch the former Espanyol and Southampton manager’s teams.
While City remain hopeful Guardiola will extend his three-year contract at the Etihad, they will not know his thinking until the final months of his current deal.
Having bought into his philosophy fully, it is fair assume his advice would be sought when the time comes to appoint a successor.
At this point, no one in the Premier League looks more suitable than Pochettino.
United, meanwhile, were aware of the 44-year-old from the moment he earned glowing praise from Sir Alex Ferguson following a 2-1 win against Southampton, just days after Pochettino arrived in England.
His reputation has only grown after Sunday’s summit meeting with City – establishing Spurs as genuine title contenders.
His profile may still sit some way below the two heavyweights currently locking horns in Manchester – but Pochettino’s star is on the rise.
To the point that a future Battle of Manchester may well be over him.
Source: Manchester Evening News
