Mauricio Pochettino to Manchester United? Unai Emery sees no reason for it

Pochettino has earned plenty of praise for his work at Tottenham Hotspur, with good friend and Arsenal manager Emery certain he is content where he is

Powered by automated translation

Mauricio Pochettino is happy at Tottenham Hotspur, according to close friend and Arsenal manager Unai Emery - who also questioned why the Argentine would want to leave to take over at Manchester United.

Following Jose Mourinho's dismissal as United manager on Tuesday morning, Pochettino has been heavily linked with replacing the Portuguese at Old Trafford.

Pochettino, 46, has been in charge at Spurs since 2014 and takes his side to face north London rivals Arsenal in the quarter-final of the League Cup on Wednesday night.

Pochettino has insisted he is "so focused on delivering my best job" after he was asked about the vacant post at United, who will appoint a caretaker manager before hiring a full-time boss in the summer.

Emery has a long friendship with Pochettino, honed as both managed in the Primera Liga and even recommended him for the managerial position at Valencia when he departed.

The move did not happen for Pochettino, who has earned plenty of praise for his work at Tottenham - with Emery certain he is content where he is amid the United links.

"I think he's very happy at Tottenham," the Spaniard said. "I think he's coaching a very big team with a very big player and now they are in the Champions League they are also in a better position in the Premier League than Manchester United.

"I think his performance at Tottenham is very big. I don't know if he's thinking to change for another club, but I am looking at him with a very big commitment to Tottenham and he's creating a good performance a good idea at Tottenham.

"Tottenham improved a lot with him. I think we need also to create our way and our test tomorrow is a very big test."

______________

Read more:

The morning after: Is Ole Gunnar Solskjaer set for Manchester United caretaker role after website gaffe?

'We are alone': Pep Guardiola offers his sympathy to Jose Mourinho after Manchester United dismissal

Mourinho was not a popular figure at Man United - but it was lack of results that ultimately led to sack

Caption this! Paul Pogba's hilarious reaction to Jose Mourinho's departure from Manchester United

Jose Mourinho profile: Once the face of gleaming modernity, now more a toxic dinosaur

______________

Soccer Football - Premier League - Southampton v Arsenal - St Mary's Stadium, Southampton, Britain - December 16, 2018  Arsenal manager Unai Emery gestures  REUTERS/David Klein  EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications.  Please contact your account representative for further details.
Arsenal manager Unai Emery does not believe his good friend Mauricio Pochettino has a reason to leave Tottenham. Reuters

Emery's Arsenal drew 2-2 at United in what proved to be Mourinho's penultimate home game in charge of the Red Devils and conceded he was surprised to see him sacked given his "very big" Premier League experience.

"The only thing I can say to you is that it's a surprise for me and not good news, because when one coach finishes his work like that, it's not good for coaches," he said.

"Each coach has their own way of management. They always think how they can be better with the work they do every day, their management team, and the players collectively and individually.

"They're pushing with one way or another way. Mourinho's experience in the Premier League and of coaching in general is very, very big. It's not good news, but I don't know why this decision's been made."