Former striker Dimitar Berbatov says ‘it’s hard to blame’ Manchester United for considering Mauricio Pochettino to be their next manager as the pressure grows on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Solskjaer is under intense pressure following back-to-back defeats by Arsenal in the Premier League and Istanbul Basaksehir in the Champions League and he now leads the bookmakers’ sack race.
And according to the Manchester Evening News, United have contacted Pochettino’s representatives. It has been reported previously that Pochettino is keen to manage United at some point and that stance is not believed to have changed.
Berbatov says United are justified in their pursuit of Pochettino given their poor start to the season but he also believes the players are as much to blame.
He told Betfair: ‘If there’s truth to the Mauricio Pochettino rumours, it’s hard to blame United really.
‘When the team plays bad, the buck stops with the boss, and this has always been true.
‘I saw him recently as a guest commentator, and he said he is ready to work again, so it’s hard to stop those rumours. The one thing that won’t change, however, are the players. A new boss won’t change how they play.
‘Yes, when you have a new manager you can see a bounce, but overall the attitude remains the same. No aggression, no passion, no holding each other to account.
‘The players need to change their attitude as much as the manager needs to be changed.’
The move comes despite United insiders privately backing Solskjaer prior to Wednesday night’s defeat and a reluctance within the club to sack him so early in the season.
Saturday’s visit to Everton has become crucial for Solskjaer as United could end the weekend sitting 17th in the Premier League table if they lose at Goodison Park.
It follows an inconsistent start to the season that has included a 6-1 humiliation at the hands of Tottenham but Champions League wins over Paris Saint-Germain and Leipzig.
They are 15th in the Premier League table having lost three of their opening six matches.
United insist Solskjaer still has their backing and no approach has been made for Pochettino to replace him.
Pochettino, the former Southampton and Tottenham manager, is the bookmakers’ odds-on favourite to be the next United boss.
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