The surprise announcement of Mauricio Pochettino’s sudden departure from Chelsea on Tuesday night further shook up an already uncertain situation facing Manchester United’s own manager.
And in more than one way, too.
Of course, given those long-standing links between Manchester United and Mauricio Pochettino, as soon as it was confirmed that he was on his way out of Stamford Bridge, the rumours that followed the Red Devils around for years returned with a vengeance.
Pochettino,The Standard say, certainly has his admirers at Ineos too. Interestingly, Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s right-hand man – Jean-Claude Blanc – was the president of Paris Saint-Germain when the Argentine rocked up in the French capital back in 2021.
Pochettino’s departure not only makes Erik ten Hag‘s position feel that little bit more wobbly, meanwhile, it also raises the prospect of Chelsea fighting Man United for a man who looks destined to be managing in the Premier League in 2024/25.
But, who for, is anyone’s guess.
Pochettino exit complicates things for Manchester United
According to BBC Sport, Chelsea have suddenly moved into pole position in pursuit of Kieran McKenna, despite Brighton and Hove Albion’s own admiration and Roberto de Zerbi‘s own May-time exit.
Man United have been keeping tabs on McKenna’s situation too; one of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s former assistant coaches guiding Ipswich Town to successive promotions in one of the most remarkable turnarounds in modern EFL history.
Ipswich, of course, will be praying that McKenna feels there is another chapter to be written. The 38-year-old is, after all, about as close as this Ipswich side gets to a ‘talismanic’ presence. A rare situation in which the manager is arguably the club’s biggest star, ahead of any of his players.
The BBC’s claim that McKenna is likely to reject any attempt from Ipswich to tie him down to a new contract, then, will only raise fears that this fairytale story could have an ending more reminiscent of a Grimm horror.
McKenna reportedly feels that the time is right to take ‘the next step’. Talks with the Ipswich bosses are likely to take place this week, but it is difficult to imagine the Tractor Boys coming out of them with their confidence strengthened.
The compensation fee required to take McKenna away from Ipswich, meanwhile, is understood to be un excess of £4 million.
Chelsea now lead Kieran McKenna chase
“He has his methods and he’s sticking by them. It worked in League One and it’s working in the Championship. And I have no doubts it will work in the Premier League,” Ipswich icon Darren Ambrose told talkSPORT (6 April, 11.20am).
“I am gutted I didn’t get chance to play for a manager like Kieran McKenna. I think he’d have made me 20, 30, 40 per cent better. He’s done that with all of his players.”
Harry Clarke, the one-time Arsenal youngster, is one of many performing at levels few would have expected of him under McKenna. Clarke goes as far as to label the London-born Northern Irishman – a boyhood Man United fan – as a ‘genius’.
“I have no doubt he would be able to go to Man United today and run that football club,” Ambrose added. “He will be a success wherever he goes.
“Yes, he’d have to stop conceding goals. He and Ipswich are very much ‘we’ll score more than you do’. It’s worked. It doesn’t always work when you get to the high level. But I think he is good enough and he will adapt to that.”
Man United face rivals Man City in an FA Cup final rematch at Wembley on Saturday. Whether this proves to be Erik ten Hag’s last stand remains to be seen.