Reds open talks with ex-Barcelona chief
UNITED have held talks with former Barcelona boss Ernesto Valverde over the role of interim manager.
The 57-year-old has been out of work since being sacked by Barcelona in January 2020 and he’s one of several candidates being considered if United decide to appoint an interim boss.
Valverde won two La Liga titles with Barcelona but his reign ended after a 3-2 Supercopa defeat to Atletico Madrid and he hasn’t taken a job since then.
United’s football director John Murtough is leading the managerial search and he has spoken to the Spaniard over the interim role, although other candidates are also under consideration.
After dismissing Ole Gunnar
Solskjaer on Sunday, United appointed Michael Carrick as caretaker boss and announced plans to name an interim manager until the end of the season, before appointing a permanent boss in the summer of 2022.
While Valverde has been spoken to over a role until the end of the season, United could yet try and appoint Mauricio Pochettino as permanent manager mid-season.
The Argentine is unsettled at Paris St-Germain and United have been given confidence he could be keen to return to the Premier League and take the job at Old Trafford immediately. That would take the need for an interim manager out of the equation.
For now United are keeping their options open, which is why they’ve spoken to Valverde. He’s only ever managed in Greece and Spain but did win the title with Barcelona and gained experience managing big names during his time at the Nou Camp.
Carrick said on Monday he didn’t know how long he would be in charge for, although last night’s win may have earned him more time in the hot seat.
Pochettino, meanwhile, was coy on the subject of his future last night during his press conference ahead of PSG clash with City tonight.
“I am not a kid, I am not a child,” Pochettino said. “I spend my whole life playing football and now 12 years being a coach.
“We are in a business where the rumours are there, I completely understand, sometimes in a positive or a negative way. I’m not distracted.
“Rumours are there and we need to live with that. We are so focused, we are giving 100 per cent to try to get our best form from the players to help us in this way, I am so happy with PSG. For tomorrow we are so focused to try and get the best result we can.
“I think we cannot talk about that, my respect to my club, my respect to another man, what that club is doing is not my business. I need to be focused on Paris SaintGermain.
“I’m not going to make the mistake to talk. Everything we will say in a way, in the past when I was at Espanyol and my dream was to meet Ferguson, all that, I can tell now it’s going to be misunderstood and out of context.
“I am so happy at PSG, I am focused to try and give my best. I was a player at PSG, I love the club, I love the fans.”