Pochettino to Man Utd or Real Madrid: 'I don't believe in trains passing only once'

FT Desk

• 19 Nov 2022 15:39 GMT
• 3 min read

Mauricio Pochettino continues to be linked to some of the biggest jobs in football having been dismissed by Paris Saint-Germain in July…

Pochettino had been out of the game for over a years when he took the PSG job in January 2021, having been sacked by Tottenham Hotspur five months after taking them to the Champions League final.

Pochettino won the league in his first full season in Paris, but was replaced by Christophe Galtier this summer having only steered them to the last 16 of the Champions League.

READ: Pochettino admits interest in succeeding Southgate as England manager

Repeated linked with other top jobs like the ones at Manchester United and Real Madrid, Pochettino even put himself forward as a potential England manager recently. It is clear he doesn't think he is finished at the top level of the game.

"Football's about timing," he told Marca. "There are moments that have to coincide for that marriage to happen. Sometimes it's just a matter of timing. I don't believe in trains passing only once. I believe that sometimes you have to have the necessary patience and you have to know how to wait.

"It's true that my name has always been linked to big clubs. I have a lot of respect for my fellow professionals and it's hard for me to sell myself, that's a job for you!"

READ: Tchouameni breaks silence on Real Madrid controversy

Top jobs available?

Whilst Man Utd are happy with the job Erik ten Hag is doing - steering the club up to fifth in the Premier League table despite the on- and off-field problems with Cristiano Ronaldo, there is growing suspicion that the 63-year-old Ancelotti might call time on his career at the end of this season with Real.

Pochettino certainly won't return to PSG if things fail to work out for Galtier, though.

"I totally agree," he replied when asked if it was the most thankless task in football. "Everyone looks down on the work of the coach. When we won it was because of individual talent, and if we lost it was the coach's fault."