Manchester United are choosing to be patient with their managerial search, but Mauricio Pochettino’s latest comments should be a warning sign.
Ineos aren’t in a rush to make anything official, with or without Michael Carrick, before the end of the season.
The World Cup complicates matters a bit, as someone like Julian Nagelsmann won’t be available until after the tournament.
However, that chase misses crucial context, a reminder of which has been provided by Pochettino with his latest comments.
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Mauricio Pochettino’s comments are a cautionary tale for Man Utd
It’s clear that United are willing to wait for the right manager, even after the likes of Thomas Tuchel and Carlo Ancelotti ruled themselves out by signing extensions with England and Brazil.
That leaves Julian Nagelsmann as the only other World Cup manager with a chance at the Man Utd manager job.
Pochettino might not be in the running anymore, but Ineos would do well to listen to his comments about his own future.
The Argentine was asked about the Spurs job, and he said that nobody from Spurs has approached him, not ruling out a stay at the USA job beyond the World Cup.
He reaffirmed his commitment to the USA, and that has nothing to do with United, but his hint of staying at the job beyond the World Cup is a cautionary tale for United.
Julian Nagelsmann’s appointment isn’t a guarantee
If Pochettino can hint at staying with the USA beyond the World Cup, what’s stopping Nagelsmann from making the same decision?
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In fact, Germany are stronger favourites for the title than the USA, so it’s feasible that a young German coach could choose to extend his stay, knowing he has time on his side.
You rarely manage the same national team twice, but club jobs open up every other season.
If United wait for Nagelsmann, and he chooses to extend at Germany, then that’s effectively the managerial version of United chasing Frenkie de Jong all summer before being rejected.
They either need to get a Louis van Gaal-type deal in place with him, but for that to happen, conversations need to begin now.
The Carrick factor comes into the equation then because the incumbent is doing so well, it’s not easy to make a decision and send him off at the end of the season right now.
At this stage, Carrick’s performance plus the World Cup uncertainty around Nagelsmann simply means United have to commit to Carrick.
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