Mauricio Pochettino and Manchester United have a well-established history. One where paths might have crossed long before now, numerous times, but somehow never managed to converge. Could it be that we are finally to bear witness to the culmination of this elaborate 10-year dance of incompatible circumstances?
The Old Trafford hierarchy have always admired Pochettino from afar. He was on their radar while at Tottenham and again when it was clear his time at PSG was coming to an end. The Argentine was eventually lured back to the Premier League, but instead returned to London, signing with Chelsea.
All along this journey of complicated courtship United were at play. There have been many sliding doors moments. At the time news broke of Chelsea's interest in Pochettino in 2023, United, coached by Erik ten Hag, had just been ripped to shreds by Sevilla.
The morning after that defeat all the back pages focussed on another humiliating capitulation in Europe. 'What the El was that?' one read. Another lay into the inadequacies of Harry Maguire's performance. No doubt both headlines have been recycled since.
At United, the more things change, the more they stay the same. Miraculously, it took another 18 months for the button to be pushed on Ten Hag. Four managers of varying permanency followed.
Until another chance, a decade on from the first, has revealed itself to pursue the one that got away. Is this finally right place right time for Pochettino? No doubt the 54-year-old is a coach well versed in chaos clubs.
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