United sound out Valverde as caretaker
⮞ Ex-Barcelona coach in talks to step in after Solskjaer exit ⮞ Interim Carrick guides team into Champions League last 16
Manchester United held talks with former Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde about taking over as their interim manager on a day when Michael Carrick, the current caretaker, oversaw a crucial win that secured the club’s passage into the Champions League knockout stage.
Late goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and Jadon Sancho, his first for the club, earned Carrick a 2-0 victory over Villarreal to book United’s place in the last 16 with a game to spare and offer some respite from the crisis engulfing Old Trafford.
Paul Scholes claimed Carrick, his former United team-mate, and fellow coaches Mike Phelan and Kieran Mckenna should also have been sacked or left the club of their own volition in the wake of Solskjaer’s departure on Sunday morning following a run of seven defeats from the past 13 matches.
“I would be almost embarrassed being on the staff now after what happened to Ole,” Scholes said before the game. “I think they should all have gone, either sacked or they go off their own back.”
But Carrick dedicated the victory to Solskjaer and revealed that he had contacted the Norwegian to get his blessing before accepting the caretaker post. “It has not been an easy couple of days for anyone at the club and that result almost feels like it is for Ole, I can’t get away from that,” the former United midfielder said.
“We had a job to do and things needed to be taken care of. I was happy to do it and thankfully it all went to plan in the end.
“The first person I spoke to when it all happened and Ed [Woodward] asked me to do the role was Ole to see what he thought about it.”
Valverde is understood to be one of a number of candidates under consideration for an interim position should United be unable to prise Mauricio Pochettino away from Paris St-germain or appoint another permanent manager.
John Murtough, United’s football director who is leading the search for a new manager, held talks with Valverde, who led Barcelona to two La Liga titles but has been out of work since exiting the Nou Camp in January last year.
Pochettino, who is keen on the job at Old Trafford, left the door open for a move yesterday, despite insisting he was “happy” at PSG.
By a twist of fate, Pochettino is in Manchester ahead of PSG’S Champions League group game against Manchester City.
PSG have not been informed by Pochettino that he wants to leave but will attempt to ascertain his intentions after the game, although
that may be inconclusive as United have not yet made a move.
PSG are also aware that Zinedine Zidane – who has himself been linked to the United job – is extremely interested in becoming their head coach should there be a vacancy. PSG are relaxed about the situation and it is also unclear as to how much United want Pochettino.
United have drawn up a shortlist for an interim coach and are working on another list for a permanent manager. Although Valverde does not have any Premier League experience, he is a seasoned coach with experience of managing big names, including Lionel Messi, and won league titles with Olympiacos, during two spells in Greece, as well as managing Athletic Bilbao, Valencia, Villarreal and Espanyol.
In their statement announcing Solskjaer’s departure, United outlined their plan to bring in an interim until the end of the season before a permanent appointment. That situation may change if their preferred first choice takes over, and it is believed that Pochettino would be open to a move now.
It is understood that tensions have developed between Pochettino and Leonardo, the PSG sporting director.
Pochettino was expecting to be questioned on his future in his prematch press conference ahead of the City tie and said: “We are in a business that the rumours are there. I understand what is going on – sometimes in a positive way and sometimes in a negative way.”
The Argentine insisted he was not going to talk publicly about any interest from Old Trafford out of respect to United and PSG.
“I am so happy at Paris St-germain and I am focused to try to be at my best, like we are doing,” he said.
Asked whether that meant he intended to see out his contract, which runs until June 2024, Pochettino was careful in his choice of words: “In football, it is about living the present, not about living the past or the future.”
PSG would allow Pochettino to go if he asked but only on their terms and would demand full compensation on the remainder of his contract once they have agreed their own plan of action.
United are also considering Ajax’s Erik ten Hag, while Leicester City’s Brendan Rodgers is another to have been put forward.
Zidane’s interest in PSG is intriguing. He stated in a French radio show five years ago that it would be “impossible” to coach there because of his feelings for Marseille, his home-town club. However, it appears that sentiment has changed.