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Jose Mourinho was not Man United's first choice to succeed Louis van Gaal, says pundit
MANCHESTER UNITED wanted Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino to succeed Louis van Gaal, according to BBC pundit Jermaine Jenas.
Jose Mourinho wasn't Manchester United's first choice to succeed Louis van Gaal
Pochettino won acclaim last term as he steered Spurs into the Champions League for the first time in six years.
His side were also praised for their swashbuckling football, and Pochettino drew comparisons with former United boss Sir Alex Ferguson for the way he developed young stars Harry Kane, Dele Alli and Eric Dier.
United, meanwhile, slumped to fifth under Van Gaal who made way for Jose Mourinho despite winning the FA Cup in May.
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If Pochettino would've been available he was Man United's first choice, 100 per cent
However, Jenas believes that the club would have opted for Pochettino instead of Mourinho had the Argentinean not signed a new five-year contract with the club at the end of last season.
Pochettino penned a new deal in May mere weeks before United confirmed Mourinho's as Van Gaal's successor.
"If Pochettino would've been available he was Man United's first choice, 100 per cent," Jenas told the BBC.
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"I think they would've taken him over Mourinho all day long."
United have enjoyed a fine start to life under Mourinho, winning their first three games across all competitions.
They are aiming to win a first league title since Ferguson's retirement in 2013 and will be aiming to continue their unbeaten start when they face Hull at the KCOM Stadium this afternoon (5.30pm).
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