To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders

Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications

Manchester United Fans Think Pochettino’s Decision Showed His Tactical Superiority Over Solskjaer

Manchester United Fans Think Pochettino’s Decision Showed His Tactical Superiority Over Solskjaer

"The difference between a real manager and a Championship manager."

Alex Reid

Alex Reid

Manchester United fans have picked up on a big decision made by Mauricio Pochettino, claiming it proves his superiority over Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

At half-time during Paris Saint-German's 4-1 demolition of Barcelona, Poch substituted booked midfielder Idrissa Gueye - who looked a red card waiting to happen - swapping him for ex-United player Ander Herrera.

This has been compared by United fans to Solskjaer's handling of Fred during PSG's 3-1 win at Old Trafford earlier in this season's Champions League. In that match, the Brazilian looked at risk of being sent off long before his 70th-minute red card for a second bookable offence.

Solskjaer admitted post-match that he perhaps made an error in not substituting Fred, saying: "He played well but with the decision the referee made you maybe look back and say you should have [taken him off]."

The result cost Man United, as a 3-2 defeat to RB Leipzig in their final group game saw them slip out of the tournament and into the Europa League.

Among the praise heaped on Pochettino for PSG's 4-1 win at the Camp Nou - inspired by a Kylian Mbappe hat-trick - some United supporters have focused on the former Tottenham boss's superior game management.

"I'm still mad Ole didn't make that sub," admitted one Reds fan on Twitter.

"Difference between and an Elite Manager vs PE Teacher," said another. Other supporters have defended Solskjaer claiming that - unlike Poch - he did not have a strong central midfield replacement on the bench.

Pochettino, who was sacked by Spurs in 2019 having taken the club to a Champions League final, was linked with the Manchester United job several times. However the club chose to stick with club legend Solskjaer, who took United top of the Premier League table halfway through this season.

Former Argentina international Pochettino took the PSG job in January, so is unlikely to be going anywhere else soon.

But it seems there is a group of Man United supporters still wondered if their side made the right decision by selecting Solskjaer over Poch as the long-term choice to lead the club.

Featured Image Credit:

Topics: Football News, Paris Saint-Germain, Football, Manchester United, PSG, Mauricio Pochettino, Man utd, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Twitter, Football twitter

Alex Reid is a writer at SPORTbible who’s previously strung words together for FourFourTwo, Boxing News, The Guardian and, yes, Cruise International (it’s about big ships, not Tom). Interests range from football and boxing to real sports like WWE and darts. He is not a cage fighter.

X

@otheralexreid