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Man Utd news: Pochettino doing THIS vs Chelsea shows why he’s perfect for United - Merson
TOTTENHAM boss Mauricio Pochettino showed after the loss to Chelsea on Thursday why he ticks all the boxes for Manchester United.
That is the opinion of Sky Sports pundit and former Arsenal forward Paul Merson.
Mauricio Pochettino watched his Tottenham side exit the Carabao Cup at the semi-final stage at Stamford Bridge.
After Chelsea won 2-1 on the night to level the game 2-2 on aggregate, the Blues scored all four of their penalties to win the shootout 4-2.
Tottenham were without key men Harry Kane and Dele Alli due to injury and Son Heung-Min was participating at the Asian Cup with South Korea.
He could have made up a million excuses, you’ve seen it with other managers. This is where I think he’s ticking all the boxes for Man United
But Merson says Pochettino did not use any excuses after the game and instead showed plenty of “class”.
And he reckons the Manchester United board, who are understood to be keen on appointing Pochettino as their next permanent manager, would have been impressed with the Argentine.
“I think the man’s class, I really do,” Merson said of Pochettino.
“He came in after [the match and said] ‘we got beat’.
“He didn’t say ‘oh what chance have I got? I’ve got players injured, there’s no extra time, why is it penalties? Why are we having semi-finals when there’s an Asian Cup?’.
“He could have made up a million excuses, you’ve seen it with other managers.
“This is where I think he’s ticking all the boxes for Man United.
“If you’re up in the board at Man United you’re thinking ‘this bloke’s class, he isn’t digging anybody out, he isn’t digging the board out because he wants players’.
“He just gets on with it and I like him, I think he’s a top manager.
“I think he’s taken this team as far as he can.
“This team aren’t winning the league and Sunday [against Crystal Palace in the FA Cup] is a big, big football match for Tottenham Hotspur.
“If they lose that, it’s another season without a trophy.”