United States head coach Mauricio Pochettino is set to be appointed as the new manager of Manchester United after the struggling English giants sacked Michael Carrick on Thursday.
Pochettino is expected to leave his role with the USA following their two-legged CONCACAF Nations League quarter-final on Saturday and Tuesday in a move that will see United trigger a release clause worth some $10 million to secure the Argentine’s services.
Pochettino, who signed a contract extension to remain with the United States through to the 2030 World Cup just three months ago, is due to hold a pre-match press conference on Friday.
Former United captain Carrick led the team to an impressive third-place finish in the Premier League last season, but they have taken just eight points from 10 games in the current campaign and are in the relegation zone.
The club confirmed in a statement Thursday that it had parted ways with the 45-year-old, following mounting speculation he would be axed during the international break.
“After a disappointing start to the season, the club has come to the extremely difficult conclusion that a change is necessary in order to achieve our ambitions,” United said.
“Michael is, and always will be, a Manchester United legend. Just as he did as a player, he has conducted himself with the highest standards of dedication and professionalism throughout his time back with the club.”
Carrick impressed after taking over as interim boss following Ruben Amorim’s acrimonious exit in January, leading United to Champions League qualification.
He was rewarded with a two-year permanent deal but, hampered by the club’s underwhelming recruitment in the summer transfer window, his side have endured a steep decline this season.
Carrick has struggled to maintain discipline, dropping captain Bruno Fernandes after he criticised his manager’s tactics following a 4-1 thrashing at Champions League debutants Como.
And defender Lisandro Martinez spoke out against the club’s hierarchy over their lack of top-quality signings.
Carrick’s final game in charge was a chaotic 4-4 draw against Aston Villa on Sunday, after which he stressed he would not walk away despite a paltry record of three wins from 15 games in all competitions this season.
It is believed Carrick’s future was decided on Wednesday during a meeting in Monaco involving co-owner Jim Ratcliffe, chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox.
– ‘Disgusting’ –
Pochettino has extensive experience of the Premier League following spells in charge of Southampton, Tottenham and Chelsea, and he also coached Paris Saint-Germain.
Carrick, who won multiple trophies as a midfielder in the club’s golden era under Alex Ferguson, is the seventh permanent manager to be dismissed by the club since the Scot retired in 2013.
Former United captain Gary Neville, who played alongside Carrick, said his old team-mate had been treated appallingly.
“It’s just quite simply disgusting,” Neville told Sky Sports. “That falls well below the standard of what you would expect in any other business. In any other industry it would be constructive dismissal and you’d be getting sued.”
The Manchester United Supporters’ Trust said Carrick’s departure marked “another depressing moment”, pinning the blame on majority owners the Glazer family and minority shareholder Ratcliffe, with the club yet to win a Premier League title since the end of the Ferguson era.
“The Glazers’ debt-funded takeover continues to burden the club,” MUST said in a statement. “When (Ratcliffe’s) INEOS came in they promised sporting excellence, but yet with repeated changes in football leadership we have seen anything but.”
United’s next game is against fierce rivals Liverpool at Anfield on November 22.
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