Former Manchester United striker and skipper Wayne Rooney has come out to say the club can not afford to make any more mistakes as regards trophies or the appointment of a coach. Erik ten Hag and Mauricio Pochettino are considered the realistic contenders for the Manchester United job but the former United player said United “can’t afford to fail again” when it comes to appointing their next permanent manager.
The 36-year-old believes Paris St-Germain manager Mauricio Pochettino would prove a better fit than Ajax’s Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford but the club is looking at Erik as their best option. Wayne Rooney suggested that Paul Pogba and Cristiano Ronaldo should leave the club at the end of the season. According to him, he said: “Pochettino has done it in the Premier League.” “He knows the league. If I’m choosing between those two, I’d go for Pochettino,” he added.
Wayne Rooney also said: “He would need time and given time he would do well.” Ex-Tottenham manager Pochettino and Ten Hag, who led Dutch champions Ajax to the semi-finals of the Champions League in 2019, are among the favorites to take over from interim boss Ralf Rangnick at the 20-time English champions.
Rooney said: “There hasn’t been a settled manager there since Alex Ferguson. The new manager needs time.” “It didn’t work with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and it hasn’t worked with the new manager who has come in.”
Praising Pochettino, he said: “Pochettino is a top manager and he knows how to work with top-class players and young players. They need to get that blend right because they can’t afford to fail again.” “I have been [to watch Manchester United] a few times and it looks like a team of individuals.” “They would want the season to stop now and forget about qualifying for the Champions League. They are not going to compete for next season in the Champions League.
He said they should rebuild and put themselves in a place, in three years, so they can challenge again for the Premier League title and other trophies.