Neville Urges Pochettino to Set Conditions as Manchester United Move Looms

What happened

Manchester United have sacked Michael Carrick as men's first-team head coach and intend to appoint Mauricio Pochettino as his permanent successor, according to a club statement reported by Football365. The club said it had reached "the extremely difficult conclusion that a change is necessary in order to achieve our ambitions" after a disappointing start to the season, with United described as third from bottom in the Premier League table at the time.

Report details

The statement credited Carrick with guiding the team to a third-placed finish in the 2025/26 season, winning 12 of the remaining 17 games and accumulating the highest points tally in the league over that period. It called him "a Manchester United legend" and praised his dedication and professionalism, adding that the club intends to appoint a permanent successor as quickly as possible.

Pochettino is currently in charge of the USA national team, a role he has held since September 2024 and extended with a new contract in August 2026. Football365 reports that United would have to pay £10.5million in compensation for Pochettino and his coaching staff to release him from that position. The report describes him as the former Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur manager.

Former United defender Gary Neville, speaking on The Overlap, said Pochettino should protect himself in negotiations with the club's co-owners, INEOS. Neville urged him to secure a pay-off in his contract, insist on two defenders arriving in the January transfer window, and obtain a minimum budget for next summer's transfers. "They have to give it to him or else he shouldn't take the job," Neville said. He criticised the back four he said Pochettino finished with on Sunday — Diogo Dalot at left back, Noussair Mazraoui at right back, Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven — calling it "probably the worst back four in the Premier League."

Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane, who worked with Pochettino at Tottenham, said the Argentine had a big impact on his career and development, providing guidance and pushing him on and off the pitch. Kane called him "a fantastic coach" who has managed the biggest clubs in the world, adding: "We'll have to wait and see what happens but I know he's a great guy but also a fantastic manager." The appointment has not been confirmed by the club; the reporting describes Pochettino as set to take the role.