Poch’s style is just what United need

THEY say timing is everything – and so it proved for Mauricio Pochettino last night.

For a man touted as a future Manchester United manager,

Pochettino had hardly covered himself in glory at Old Trafford.

Four Premier League visits, four defeats and not a single goal scored amounted to a dismal record in front of the Stretford End for the much-heralded Tottenham boss.

But all that changed as Pochettino masterminded his first win at Old Trafford and increased the pressure on beleaguered Jose Mourinho, who was consigned to a second straight stinging defeat.

Pochettino (left) remains a potential successor to the not-so-special One, although prising him from the vice-like grip of Spurs chairman Daniel Levy would be a big ask, even for a club of United’s bloated financial might.

But United continue to covet the 46-year-old, who has steered Spurs to second place and two third-place finishes in the last three years – playing an expansive, attacking style of football, at odds with Mourinho’s pragmatic, uninspiring approach.

Initially frustrated at Spurs’ inability to punish United, Pochettino aimed a kick a cluster of water bottles behind him – almost falling over in the process.

But he was on a winner when Harry Kane planted an unstoppable header beyond the reach of David De Gea and then Lucas Moura steered home a clinical first-time effort.

United had no one to match livewire Brazilian winger Lucas, who struck again in the 84th minute to the despair of the home fans.