Rio Ferdinand believes Mauricio Pochettino is the best candidate to become Manchester United manager if the club decide to part ways with Michael Carrick. The former United defender particularly highlighted the Argentine's ability to work with players and restore their confidence.
Carrick has come under serious pressure after a poor start to the season.
Before the November international break, Manchester United are 18th in the Premier League, just one point off bottom place.
The club's hierarchy are assessing Carrick's position, with Eddie Howe, Fabian Hurzeler, Julian Nagelsmann, Antonio Conte and Pochettino among those named as possible successors.
Ferdinand believes the Argentine is the most suitable option.
There is a lot of talk about Mauricio Pochettino at the moment, and it seems he is among the leading candidates.
We spent time with him and his staff in the summer. They are very good people who know their jobs.
I look at Pochettino and think one of his main qualities is the human side of the job and his ability to give players confidence.
That is especially important for Manchester United right now because there are too many broken players in the team.
Ferdinand believes United need a manager capable not only of reshaping the way they play, but also of restoring the players' mental resilience.
How do you restore that?
Through training, results or someone coming in and supporting the players?
Most likely, it will take all of those things.
But of all those candidates, Pochettino stands out as the person with more of the qualities needed to rescue this group and rebuild it.
Ferdinand also acknowledged that Pochettino does not have a long list of trophies, but considers that argument secondary in United's current situation.
Some people will ask: “What has Pochettino won?”
But you can ask the same question about Eddie Howe.
Standards at the club have fallen a long way, so we need to be realistic about the situation.
First, they need to stabilise and get back into the Champions League.
Pochettino began his managerial career at Espanyol before working at Southampton, Tottenham, PSG and Chelsea.
He has been in charge of the United States national team since September 2024.
He extended his contract after the World Cup, although the agreement reportedly contains a clause allowing him to leave the team under certain conditions.
Manchester United's next match is away to Liverpool on 22 November.
