Manchester United would be making a mistake if they concentrated all of their efforts on choosing Mauricio Pochettino, and the board should 'open up' the process so that other contenders might be'surprised.'
That is the opinion of former United forward Dimitar Berbatov, who feels the board should leave no stone unturned in the search for a new long-term manager.
Mauricio Pochettino is the frontrunner to replace Jose Mourinho as Manchester United manager (photo: David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images). )
Pochettino, the manager of Paris Saint-Germain, is the favourite to take over at Old Trafford, but his job in Paris is in jeopardy following the club's Champions League defeat to Real Madrid.
If PSG fires Pochettino, United's chances of appointing him improve dramatically since they won't have to pay a compensation fee for the former Southampton manager.
Pochettino is rumored to be interested in a move to Old Trafford, but Berbatov believes United would be foolish if they did not perform a thorough search for a new manager, including considering other options such as Erik Ten Hag.
When asked who United should hire this summer, Berbatov told Metro.co.uk that he doesn't have a favorite and that the club should cast a broad net.
'Honestly, I don't have a favorite since the coaches and United have been so hit-or-miss,' said Betfair Ambassador Berbatov.
'You're afraid to say who the correct one will be. I mean, great coaches have come to United and failed to bring the Premier League trophy with them. This is how I evaluate a United coach. That's why I can't say he's the right person for the job.
'In the case of Pochettino, he's been the favorite for a long time, and maybe he'll get the job at some point because he's well respected in England, and everyone loves him as a coach and a human being, and maybe he'll be the coach at some point.
'However, my recommendation is to simply open up and interview other people to see what they have to offer.' Maybe someone will surprise you with what they can contribute, and let's hope it's the correct person this time.'
The Paris Saint-Germain defeat at the Bernabeu has cast major concerns not just on Pochettino's future at the club, but also on the Argentine's ability to lead his teams to victory.
Pochettino did marvels at Tottenham, leading the club to the Champions League final in 2019 despite operating on a shoestring budget in comparison to his competitors.
Berbatov, on the other hand, believes there are no excuses for Pochettino's failure at PSG, and that his reputation has surely suffered as a result.
Berbatov has urged United to consider alternative possibilities (Getty Images/Fred Lee). )
'To be honest, I don't see any excuses here,' Berbatov remarked.
'You get the lead, you have a wonderful squad with great players, you're up 1-0 and 2-0 after the first leg, and this should be enough for you to advance to the next round, even though Real Madrid has excellent players as well, which is why I believe there are no excuses.'
'Credit to Real Madrid for what they achieved, of course, but this might be damaging to Pochettino's reputation because he is working with a fantastic squad, full of fantastic players, and he should be accomplishing something in the Champions League.
'Now, the French league, which I've also been a part of and am very familiar with, PSG is above everyone else, so it's a little easier there.' The Champions League is where you put yourself to the test, and they have failed yet again. It irritates me. It irritates him and causes him discomfort. He'll get a poor rap, but I don't think it'll hurt his coaching abilities in the long run.
'Some would claim he has the 'Spurs curse,' meaning he hasn't won anything, but as I previously stated, he works with excellent players in PSG, all of them have huge personalities and egos.'I mean, the front three is incredible, but you also need to know how to manage them and get the most out of them, which is something he is now failing to do at PSG.
'Is he still United's best player? Also a big, big question, and this is where the United board of directors, as they look for someone to replace Pochettino next summer, must think carefully. I hope they will not focus solely on one name, in this case Pochettino.
'They should be more open and interview them to see what they can bring to the table, and then make the best decision possible.' Will they make the correct decision? In the summer, we'll find out.'
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