Inside Man Utd's pursuit of Pochettino

United want Pochettino in place for the Premier League game against Liverpool at Anfield a week on Sunday. Their pursuit brings them back to a coach who has long been admired at Old Trafford, having also been considered by the previous regime before Erik ten Hag was appointed.

The meeting in the summer of 2024 took place shortly after Omar Berrada became United's chief executive. Pochettino had left Chelsea that May and was out of work; Ten Hag would eventually be sacked in October.

Although United regarded Pochettino as an excellent man-manager and a sound tactician, it is understood they felt he had been emotionally bruised by the latter stages of his time at Stamford Bridge. With complex relationships to navigate and a squad to rebuild at United, the timing did not feel right for either side.

A few weeks ago, United learned of that clause and received positive signals from Pochettino's camp about his desire to take charge at Old Trafford. Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox decided the timing was now right.

Their first direct contact with Pochettino is understood to have come on Tuesday night, around the same time as an official approach to his employers, the United States Soccer Federation. United's hierarchy had committed fully to the pursuit after it became clear the previous week that Unai Emery could not be prised away from Aston Villa.

Carrick's exit and the criticism inside United

United's bosses are understood to be hurt by suggestions that they treated Carrick badly by allowing him to continue taking training while they worked on a deal for Pochettino.

They insist nobody within the club leaked information about the talks and maintain that treating Carrick with the respect due to a club legend was their priority throughout. Until they had full agreement with Pochettino, they were reluctant to remove Carrick for fear of being left without a head coach.

The board also insisted Carrick should hear the decision face-to-face. After returning from their review with Ratcliffe in Monaco on Wednesday night, they arranged an 8.30am meeting on Thursday to deliver the news. Carrick is said to have been upset but to have understood the reasons.

When Carrick first took the interim role in January, United had no definite plan to keep him beyond the end of the season. His integrity, understanding of the club, work with the academy and the positive impact he and his staff made on the squad impressed the hierarchy.

The third-placed finish strengthened that impression and created a real desire for him to succeed over the longer term. Before offering him a two-year contract, however, Wilcox and Berrada carried out a full round of due diligence and spoke to other possible candidates in the new year.

Ultimately, Carrick's results, the mood within the squad and the groundswell of support from United fans left the hierarchy feeling they had to retain him. His contract was limited to two years, with minimal termination costs for either party.

This season brought a very different mood. Heavy defeats to Bournemouth and Como last month prompted United's football leadership to schedule a full review at the start of the international break.

Even a comeback win against Roma and a comeback draw against Villa failed to alter the assessment that performances and the team's structure had become chaotic. Berrada and Wilcox decided to recommend a change to Ratcliffe.

The overriding feeling within the hierarchy was that a “bubble of negativity” had descended on the squad, reflected in performances and public criticism from Lisandro Martinez and captain Bruno Fernandes.

One win in 11 matches and a descent into the relegation places were deemed unacceptable for a squad the board believed should be competing for the Premier League's top six.

The qualities United see in Pochettino

The accompanying analysis points to Pochettino's stature, attractive football and commitment to pathways for young players. An earlier endorsement from Sir Alex Ferguson also carries weight, even some 13 years after his retirement.

That assessment argues United have too often failed to appoint a leader with the appropriate stature and experience in the post-Ferguson era, with Jose Mourinho perhaps the exception. Pochettino's ability to handle pressure is another part of his appeal.

His most recent role as US national head coach brought that pressure at a home World Cup, where he described his team's campaign as being overshadowed by “politics and manipulation”.

There is also sympathy within United for the injuries that have depleted Carrick's squad this season. Those problems are likely to be addressed in January as the club looks to support Pochettino in the early stages of his prospective reign.