Poch needs to deal with the egos and make PSG an elite force to prove he’s the man for United

AS Thierry Henry listened to Jamie Carragher explaining why Mauricio Pochettino should get out of Paris Saint-germain “because of those three stars” he could not help but smile.

Not necessarily through amused disagreement but probably through a realisation of how fundamentally absurd it sounds.

Because let’s face it, on the list of reasons a manager should leave a football club, having Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi and Neymar at your disposal would be an unlikely contender at the top of the pile.

Carragher was in a large majority in decrying the defensive efforts of ‘those three stars’ in the 2-1 defeat to Manchester City.

In fact, criticism of their work-rate was pretty unanimous.

Even Henry joined in and, for all his brilliance and majesty, Thierry was hardly a striker renowned for his lung-emptying graft. Thankfully for Arsene Wenger’s Invincibles, there were plenty of team-mates who were.

There were some mitigating circumstances for Messi, Mbappe and Neymar (right), not least that, after it became clear RB Leipzig were going to hammer Bruges (half-time, at the latest, one assumes), the game at the

Etihad was a glorified exhibition match.

But that was still no excuse for the decorated trio to treat it as one, obviously.

So, presuming Pochettino is still in Paris come the knockout stage of the Champions League, let’s see how he deals with it. Let’s see if Pochettino has the sort of resolve, the sort of ruthlessness that will confirm him as a great choice as the next, permanent Manchester United manager.

Surely, for his own professional pride, Pochettino cannot walk out of a job because he cannot get three of the world’s best players to put in a shift?

Pochettino’s suitability for the United post is taken as read in a lot of quarters. He did a very good job with Southampton and Tottenham, and clearly enjoys the intensity of the Premier League.

His relaxed demeanour after the defeat at the Etihad probably reflected an 11-point lead in the domestic championship, a place in the Champions League knockout stage and the knowledge that he can probably walk into the Old Trafford job for next season.

His reputation, rather than his trophies, sees to that.

He is clearly a smashing coach, a lovely character, a highly-regarded operator and was superb for Spurs.

Yet rarely can a coach with so few baubles have been so lauded.

United have probably made up their minds and – who knows? – maybe a deal is done.

But when Ralf Rangnick’s sixmonth contract comes to an end, there will be other options.

Wednesday night’s game was no audition for Pochettino, just as the win over City in Paris back in late September was no audition.

But never mind the holy trinity’s heat maps, Pochettino is in charge of a squad that should be reaching the last four of the Champions League… minimum.

Look at the PSG bench at the Etihad. Donnarumma, Ramos, Verratti, Icardi, Di Maria, Danilo, Wijnaldum, etc, etc.

This is why United should not be too hasty over anointing Pochettino as the long-term appointment to follow Rangnick.

At PSG, Pochettino has been given the chance to prove himself a truly elite manager.

Let’s see if he can kick some butt and make them the formidable force they should be in this season’s Champions League.

And then, we will know, for sure, if he is the right long-term option for Manchester United.

‘Poch cannot walk out just because he cannot get the world’s best players to shine’