Former Manchester United fan favourite and England international fullback Paul Parker has questioned why Mauricio Pochettino would leave Tottenham Hotspur for Old Trafford given we’ve improving year on year and United are once again falling backwards.
The media have been plastered in the speculation linking our gaffer with a move to United following the sacking of Jose Mourinho and it’s possibly the third piece I’ve done on it as I noticed different things
This one stands out as it slightly breaks ranks in my humble. Spurs fans and those with a stronger Spurs association may show United respect in terms of calling them a ‘big club’ and talking up their recent historical strength in the Premier League, but Spurs would be talked up more owing to our progress.
Parker, as somebody who played his part in United’s better days, would be expected to follow the opposite line – praise Spurs for progress, but United would be ‘different level’. Others have such as Jaap Stam did in a recent interview.
That’s what makes Parker’s Words (ESPN) more balanced and possibly more powerful.
Having done the groundwork with us in recent years to build us up – why start from scratch as even success wouldn’t necessarily be seen as a success given the nostalgic expectations they hold.
“Football fans question managers if they don’t win a trophy and then these so-called football fans want to have a go if you don’t spend any money. People forget you are employed as a coach, and if you are a good coach you work with, invest and improve young talent for your club. If you don’t spend money and achieve success, you get more respect from everyone within football. That is why everyone loves Pochettino because of what he is doing without money. He has improved Spurs without demanding millions.”
Parker goes on to talk about our youth setup and the way Poch isn’t afraid to blood and back them, and compared to Moaninho, they aren’t hung, drawn, quartered or to blame for the world’s ills after an error. He also talks about sensible first team introduction in a managed way to aid their development, referencing the Portugal gaffer’s approach to Scott McTominey for example.
He does say in many ways Poch’s future is in Daniel Levy’s hands when it comes to being backed given our new stadium, because Poch needs to feel he’s still moving forward with us but as long as he does, he’ll want to finish his project and have something to show for it before he moves onto another challenge.
“If he can win a first English title with Tottenham since 1961, suddenly he’s going to have his own statue outside the ground. If he wins it for Manchester United, they will say ‘we expect you to do that: that’s why you are here’ ou think about yourself, and what you can become if you go and really achieve something at a club. I was involved in United’s first Premier League win in 26 years in 1993. The following year, I was playing in the first United team to win a Premier League and FA Cup double at Wembley. Why would Pochettino want to go straight to United after all he has built at Tottenham over the past four years? People will shout about the size of United and the money he would have to spend, but football is not like that any more.”
His decision to then talk about United no longer being a top draw for players and attracting players by name only will irk his former supporters, but he’s spot on again. London has the greater pull in the modern game, and to get around that you need the manager and a playing ethos. That’s built at Spurs, we are solid and stable. United have lurched around ever since Sir Alex Ferguson left as they chased former glories.
His words about the state of United, as he acknowledges, makes Poch 100% a top pick for them.
But, the last line is the important one.
“United need a proper coach, a figure who can develop young talent without constantly demanding money. Pochettino fits the bill for United, but I’m not convinced he will give up what he is building at Tottenham.”