Pochettino has been heavily linked with the vacant job at Manchester United
Mauricio Pochettino has played down reports linking him to the Manchester United job, insisting that he is ‘happy’ at Paris Saint-Germain.
Following the sacking of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer last weekend, United are looking for a new permanent manager, but are looking into appointing an interim manager first until the end of the season.
Ernesto Valverde is reportedly in talks over that position, but the hierarchy have identified Pochettino as their number one target to take over at Old Trafford.
The former Tottenham boss has been in charge at PSG since January but could be moving on already to return to the Premier League.
Ahead of his side’s Champions League clash against Manchester City on Wednesday night, the Argentine played down the rumours and claimed that he was more than happy with life in Paris.
He said: “I’m happy in Paris. I know the city well both as a player and a coach, I have always lived this type of situation.
“Things happen and it’s not my responsibility. What I’m going to say if you ask me is that I’m happy in Paris.”
Mauricio Pochettino: "I'm happy in Paris. I know the city well both as a player and a coach, I have always lived this type of situation. Things happen and it's not my responsibility. What I'm going to say if you ask me is that I'm happy in Paris." #mulive [@AndiOnrubia]
— utdreport (@utdreport) November 23, 2021
Pochettino then went on to add that the speculation surrounding his future is something he is used to in the world of football.
“I am very focused in football. I am not a kid, I am not a child,” he said when speaking to the press.
“I spend my whole life playing football and have been a coach for 12 years. We are in a business that the rumours are there, I completely understand what is going on – sometimes in a positive way and sometimes in a negative way.
“This type of thing cannot distract. Rumours are there. We need to live with that and that is the football that we live in.
“We are so focused. We are giving 100 per cent to try and give our best for the club. I am so happy at Paris Saint-Germain. We are so focused on trying to get the best results that we can.
“I am really happy in Paris Saint-Germain and that is a fact. The fact is I am happy in Paris.”
The PSG boss was also dismissed talk of his admiration for Manchester United, saying that it would be ‘disrespectful’ to his current employers to talk about another club in this way, but admitted his dream was to meet United legend, Sir Alex Ferguson.
He said: “We can not talk about that. I think with in respect to my club Paris Saint-Germain and another club. I need to be focused on Paris Saint-Germain. What another club is doing is not my business.
“I will not make that mistake at all. Everything I say, that was in the past while at Espanyol. My dream was to meet [Sir Alex] Ferguson.
“Anything I say now is going to be misunderstood and out of context. I was a player in Paris Saint-Germain. I love the club. I love the fans. It’s a fantastic time to be in the club.”
United could qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League with a win against Villarreal on Tuesday night whilst PSG will look to leapfrog Manchester City and go top of Group A.
Related links:
- Ferdinand suggests ex-United coach should return until Pochettino accepts job
- Phil Jones travels with Man Utd squad for Villarreal game despite being ineligible
- PSG players believe Zinedine Zidane becoming their new manager is ‘imminent’
