Erik ten Hag faces uphill battle as Man Utd boss with four club legends including Wayne Rooney against appointing him
WAYNE ROONEY has become the latest Manchester United icon to reveal he would NOT make Erik ten Hag the club’s new manager.
The Derby County boss appeared on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football and picked Mauricio Pochettino over the Dutchman.
He pointed to Poch’s success in the Premier League with Southampton and Tottenham as the reason why he is the right man to take over from Ralf Rangnick.
Rooney said: “I think Pochettino has done it in the Premier League, he knows the Premier League.
“At Tottenham and Southampton he brought a lot of young players through.
“If I’m choosing between one of those two, I’m going with Pochettino and giving him time. Managers now need time to come in and put their blueprint on the club. If you give him time I think he’ll do well.”
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And he is not the only one who would rather Pochettino became United manager over Ten Hag.
Gary Neville also wants the Paris Saint-Germain manager at Old Trafford, for similar reasons to Rooney.
He said of Poch: “I’d like Pochettino to be the next manager because he’s got experience of the league, I think he would play the right type of football.
“It feels like the moment for him to step up. He’s managing big stars, characters and personalities.
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I’ve always liked him and the way in which he has operated. I think he fits the club, he works with young players as well.
“He gets the best out of players. He’s a good coach. But also I think he works people the right way.”
Another of the class of 92, Nicky Butt, also wants the Argentine as he is young and enthusiastic.
Like Neville, Butt has seen Pochettino at work and believes the United squad would want to play for him.
He told FourFourTwo: “I’d go all-out to get Mauricio Pochettino as manager.
“He’s proven in the Premier League, he’s young and enthusiastic, his style of play would suit United and his backroom staff seem switched on.
“I met him a couple of times at Spurs’ training ground and had lunch. You’d want to play for him.”
There have been reports that some members of the current team even oppose bringing in Ten Hag.
Paul Scholes, another Red Devils legend, also suggested United should appoint someone other than Ten Hag, though did not pick Poch.
Instead, Scholes wants United to do everything they can to entice Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel to Manchester.
He is also fond of Tottenham manager Antonio Conte who has been linked to United in the past.