Man Utd: Gary Neville tells Pochettino to make THREE INEOS demands as Harry Kane drops verdict
Gary Neville has urged incoming Manchester United manager Mauricio Pochettino to make sure that the club’s co-owners, INEOS, back him in the next two transfer windows, with Harry Kane also giving his verdict on the Argentine.
Michael Carrick has been sacked as Man Utd manager, with the team third from bottom in the Premier League table at the moment.
A statement on Man Utd’s official website reads: ‘Manchester United can confirm that Michael Carrick has departed his role as men’s first-team head coach.
‘Michael rejoined the club in January and guided the team to a third-placed Premier League finish by winning 12 out of the remaining 17 games of the 2025/26 season, accumulating the highest points tally in the league during that period.
‘After a disappointing start to the season, the club has come to the extremely difficult conclusion that a change is necessary in order to achieve our ambitions.
‘Michael is, and always will be, a Manchester United legend. Just as he did as a player, he has conducted himself with the highest standards of dedication and professionalism throughout his time back with the club. His leadership and achievements last season will always be fondly remembered.
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‘The club intends to appoint a permanent successor as quickly as possible.’
Pochettino is set to be appointed as the new Man Utd manager.
The Argentine is in charge of the USA national football team at the moment.
The former Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur manager has been the USA boss since September 2024 and signed a new contract in August 2026.
Man Utd will have to pay £10.5million in compensation for Pochettino and his coaching staff to get him out of the USA.
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Gary Neville on Mauricio Pochettino to Man Utd
Former Man Utd defender Neville believes that Pochettino needs to make three demands of INEOS.
The Sky Sports pundit has urged Pochettino to sign two defenders in the January transfer window, make more additions to the squad next summer and also have the prospect of a big pay-off should he be sacked by Man Utd eventually.
Neville said on The Overlap: “If I was Mauricio Pochettino now, I would be literally protecting myself up to the high heaven.
“He’ll do that with a pay-off. So do that in your contract. But secondly, he needs two defenders in January.
“So he’s got to insist that he gets two defenders in January. He’s got to insist that he gets a minimum budget next summer for the transfer we’re not to be able to turn this around.
“He’s got to insist that he gets a budget that follows. They have to give it to him or else he shouldn’t take the job.”
Neville added: “I mean look the back four that he finished with on Sunday was [Diogo] Dalot left back, [Noussair] Mazraoui right back, Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven.
“That is probably the worst back four in the Premier League.
“I don’t know a back four that is worse than that in the Premier League right now if I watch it.
“That is I can’t believe Manchester United have ended up with that back four.”
Harry Kane on Mauricio Pochettino
Bayern Munich striker Kane worked with Pochettino at Tottenham Hotspur, and the England international believes that the Argentine would be a success at Old Trafford.
Metro quotes Kane as saying: “I mentioned him as one of the coaches who had a big impact on my career and definitely my development.
“At that stage of my career, I needed his guidance and the way he pushed me, not just on the pitch but off the pitch as well, he was really, really helpful.
“Obviously a fantastic coach, he’s managed the biggest clubs in the world. From my point of view, I can’t speak highly enough of him.
“We’ll have to wait and see what happens but I know he’s a great guy but also a fantastic manager.”
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