Wes Brown EXCLUSIVE with 888sport: Pochettino Would LOVE To Be Offered The Manchester United Job

Former Manchester United star Wes Brown believes Mauricio Pochettino would be a great fit should the club target the PSG boss this summer as their search for a permanent manager ramps up. Furthermore, he insists the Argentine would jump at the opportunity.

“United have struggled in recent years getting the manager right and it’s a very important decision. Pochettino has obviously been in the Premier League before and he understands the league.

"We know his style of play and I think he would love to be the Manchester United manager. He’d be very enthusiastic, and he would have the money to build his squad.”

Not that Brown, who won the Premier League on five occasions at Old Trafford across 15 highly successful years with the club, has ruled out the possibility of present interim gaffer Ralf Rangnick remaining in charge, and this uncertainty can be extended to the playing staff too, as an era-defining transfer window looms at the end of this season.

“It all depends on the new manager, which new players are brought in. Players contracts are running out as well, so we don’t know what’s going on there.

"That all explains why we didn’t bring in anyone significant in January, a big name. A new journey will start in the summer and that depends on the manager.”

One player who Brown would be delighted to see adorn the famous red shirt however is Declan Rice, with huge bids anticipated for the West Ham midfielder from United, Chelsea and others in the months ahead.

“I love Declan Rice. I look at him and he reminds me of an old-school player because he knows his job and position and knows what to do.

"He works hard and he doesn’t need to be a tactical genius or do fancy tricks, he just knows his job and he does it very well at West Ham.

"He just gets it and he would very definitely benefit Man United. A lot of people say he is not this or that or flamboyant. He doesn’t need to be.”

If the 23-year-old England international would represent a major coup for United, to upgrade a long-standing problem area, what about the talent they already possess, whose futures are up in the air at present?

When the Red Devils brought Cristiano Ronaldo back to the north-west after a 12-year separation it was widely believed to be a rematch made in heaven but ever since rumours have emerged of discontent and ill-feeling with some suggesting the megastar is unhappy in Manchester, frustrated at the current set-up.

Others meanwhile claim his attitude is negatively affecting team morale. So, might CR7 depart this summer, to conclude an incredible career elsewhere? Brown isn’t having any of it.

“Cristiano Ronaldo is a true professional. He has won so many things and he’s a senior player in that team, so he will be one of those who speaks up.

"I hope he’s still there next season. He saved us quite a lot when he first arrived, scoring some crucial goals in both the league and in Europe. I honestly do feel he will be there next season.”

What about Paul Pogba, whose form and impact have substantially improved since coming back from injury.

With less than five months left on his contract might the World Cup-winning midfielder be heading for pastures new in the not-too-distant future?

“Pogba is very important to United. Nobody knows if he is staying or going in the summer and that’s just the truth, but when he’s playing like this there are not too many better than him. When he’s on the ball it is very hard to dispossess him.

"He has a good understanding with the lads and him and Bruno play very well together. He’s always looking to pass forward and be positive and that’s what he brings to the team.”

In recent weeks the French schemer has certainly been bringing these qualities on a more regularly basis but at the back doubts persist about a defence that continues to concede too often and too easily.

Worse yet, a scapegoat has emerged in the form of skipper Harry Maguire.

Does Brown think the criticism lumped onto the centre-back is unjust given that he is hardly alone in falling short of the lofty levels that were regularly reached by some of his predecessors at the Theatre of Dreams?

“Harry knows that he gets judged against every other defender who has played for Manchester United during the good times. He’s a fantastic professional, and one of the senior members who understands the Premier League but when he makes a mistake it is highlighted, it’s as simple as that.

"He is at one of the biggest clubs in the world and he is going to get criticism, especially because of where the club is at right now.

"Harry can handle that What is weird is that he never gets praise. The problem is, the stats are the stats and it is what it is. United let in goals. We don’t keep loads of clean sheets.

"That doesn’t necessarily mean he is a bad defender because the team as a whole has to step up. But he’s the captain and any captain is held to a higher standard.”

The same of course applies to Manchester United as a whole, and if results, if not performances on a weekly basis, have markedly improved since Ralf Rangnick took the reins the Reds still find themselves significantly behind rivals who used to be viewed as inferiors.

Does Brown believe such a sizable gap is acceptable from a squad packed with world class talent?

“I never thought that Man United would be challenging for the title this season but what bothers me is that Liverpool and City are on a different level to United.

"What they must do is focus on getting top four. That’s our battle this season and that’s what we have to deal with. Once you get to Christmas you know where you’re at and top four and getting Champions League is everything.”

Wes Brown Quickfire Questions:

Score prediction for Manchester United vs Watford?

3-1.

First goal-scorer

Ronaldo.

Who will win the Premier League?

Man City.

Who will finish leading goal-scorer?

Oh, Salah. 100%.

Who will win the Champions League?

I’m never going to say City so I’ll go with PSG.

*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to AP Photo*

FIRST PUBLISHED: 22nd October 2022