Manchester United eyes Pochettino as Carrick teeters on the brink

Manchester United is living through its worst-ever start to a Premier League campaign: just one win in 10 matches and a spot in the relegation zone that has all of Old Trafford on edge. Club executives met on Tuesday to discuss the future of 45-year-old Michael Carrick, who, according to sources cited by ESPN, is on the verge of being sacked. And that's where one name keeps coming up: Mauricio Pochettino.

The 54-year-old Argentine coach just led the United States into the Round of 16 at the World Cup and has emerged as the leading candidate to take over at United if Carrick's departure is confirmed. The irony is hard to miss: Pochettino recently signed a long-term contract extension with U.S. Soccer, but that same deal includes an escape clause that would let him negotiate with a major European club if that club is willing to pay his $10 million buyout.

Is the move worth it? United remains one of the biggest institutions on the planet, recent results notwithstanding. The list of coaches who couldn't handle the pressure is a long one: David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Erik ten Hag and Ruben Amorim. Pochettino himself has come close to the job more than once before, in 2018 after Mourinho's exit, in 2022 before Ten Hag's arrival, and again in 2024 when the club opted to stick with the Dutchman. The club's finances don't make things any easier either: there's no room for a transfer market overhaul, which would force the Argentine to squeeze more out of the current squad rather than rely on major new signings.

A World Cup cycle that's barely begun

Leaving the national team right now would come at a cost. Since the Round of 16 exit at the last World Cup, Pochettino has strung together four straight wins, including victories over Canada and Mexico, handed debuts to 13 players, and watched seven young players score their first goal in a U.S. shirt, all while resting key figures like Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie. He's only just starting to leave his real mark on the project, having arrived midway through the previous cycle.

Fulham defender Antonee Robinson said the locker room isn't letting the rumors distract from the Nations League quarterfinal series against Haiti, set for November 14 and 17.

"As players we're pretty used to fast-moving training and game environments, so we're all good at focusing on the next task, the next session or the next game," Robinson said.Antonee Robinson

Seventeen-year-old Cavan Sullivan, one of the breakout stars of this cycle, spoke about the impact Pochettino has had on his career since he made his debut under him.

"He took me under his wing in the most incredible way. I was obviously a young kid coming in, and he told me to play free, to be myself and trust my ability," said the Philadelphia Union midfielder.Cavan Sullivan

Sullivan also said he was excited to share the field with Pulisic, whom he called a role model for any young player in the country. After the November window, the United States has a friendly against Jamaica on the calendar for December 13, while Pochettino's name continues to circulate between Old Trafford and the national team camp.