^ ^ Star of Mauricio Pochettino’s Spurs side reveals how he will change Man Utd

Mauricio Pochettino is set to take charge at Manchester United (Picture: AP Photo)

Former Tottenham star Toby Alderweireld says Mauricio Pochettino is the man to change the mentality at Manchester United and will bring intensity to the team.

Michael Carrick has been dismissed as Red Devils manager, with confirmation coming from the club on Thursday morning.

The club legend’s interim stint from January to the end of last season could scarcely have gone better, but his permanent spell in charge has been disastrous, with United winning just one of their 10 Premier League games this campaign.

Pochettino is now expected to be announced as Carrick’s replacement, with the USA manager set to leave his role and return to the Premier League where he has previously managed Chelsea, Southampton and Spurs.

His stint in charge of Tottenham was the most significant of his career, leading the club to a Champions League and second-place finish in the Premier League.

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Alderweireld was a big part of that success, playing for Spurs from 2015-21, and he has high hopes for his former boss at Old Trafford.

‘He will make players fit, that’s for sure,’ the Belgian told talkSPORT. ‘Second of all he brings intensity. It’s not like everyone is playing their own game, he wants a team that’s going to be on the front foot. He wants to play pressure and having the ball as well.

Toby Alderweireld made 236 appearances for Spurs (Picture: Getty Images)

‘A clear idea, intensity and players being fit, I think that’s the way he likes to work.’

Alderweireld reckons Pochettino is going to want the club to bend to his will to some extent, expecting the Argentine to insist on influence in the transfer market.

‘The summer, maybe the winter as well, the transfer window is going to be the players that he wants,’ said the former defender.

‘Also the facilities are going to be built also to the things that he wants. Making players fit, food-wise, gym-wise, everything needs to be how he wants it, that’s a big part of his philosophy.

Michael Carrick has had a very tough time this season (Picture: Getty Images)

‘Then he’ll want to buy the players. Maybe not always the biggest names, biggest talents, but guys with desire to win, desire to become better, desire to run. I think if you see the players he bought for Spurs, that’s thing number one, the desire to become better, the desire to win games, wins duels, to run.

‘That’s why I think Pochettino is the man for Man United, to change things around. In the past couple of transfer windows they’ve bought good players, good quality but they miss some chemistry, they miss the intensity and I think Pochettino will bring that.

‘He brings the mentality. If you work hard and bring your A game every single day, everything you want you can achieve. He will bring intensity and the mindset will change at Man United.’

Harry Kane sends message to Manchester United over Mauricio Pochettino move

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^ ^ Man Utd sack Michael Carrick and provide update on Mauricio Pochettino arrival

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Manchester United have sacked Michael Carrick with Mauricio Pochettino set to be appointed their new head coach.

Carrick led training at Carrington this week despite it becoming clear a change was imminent as early as Monday evening.

He arrived at United’s training base at Carrington just before 8am on Thursday morning, leaving less than two-and-a-half hours later having been relieved of his duties.

Behind the scenes, chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox have sought approval from minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe to part ways with Carrick, with a deal for Pochettino, currently serving as the USA men’s head coach, in place.

Carrick has been on the brink at various stages this season with United sat in the relegation zone in 18^th place after 10 games, winning just once against newly promoted Ipswich Town.

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United opted against making a change during the international break in September and October when Julian Nagelsmann and Eddie Howe were the leading contenders for the job.

Carrick gave himself a lifeline as United came from behind to beat Roma in the Champions League at the start of the month. United also fought back twice from 2-1 down in the same game against Aston Villa on Sunday to rescue a 4-4 draw but the decision was made the following day to part ways with the former midfielder.

His staff are also expected to leave, including former defender Jonny Evans who was pictured leaving Carrington with his belongings on Wednesday.

Pochettino will take over at Old Trafford (Picture: Getty)

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Carrick’s departure marks the third season in a row United have sacked a manager midway through the campaign.

Pochettino’s first game in charge is expected to be the visit to Liverpool on Sunday 22 November.

How Carrick’s United dream turned into a nightmare

Carrick, who had a brief spell as interim boss in 2021, took the reins again in January following Ruben Amorim’s dismissal, securing hugely impressive wins over Manchester City and Arsenal in his opening two games.

They won 12 of their 17 games during the second-half of the 2025-26 season, securing third place and Champions League qualification with a game to spare. United picked up more points than champions Arsenal managed in the period from Carrick’s game in charge until the end of the campaign.

United clearly benefited from the lighter schedule in that run with just the Premier League to focus on. With European football back on the menu this season, reinforcements were needed.

United signed three new midfielders in the summer in Youri Tielemans, Andrey Santos and Carlos Baleba but missed out on their top targets Elliot Anderson and Mateus Fernandes who joined Manchester City and Tottenham respectively.

The club also failed to sign another left-back and a striker – positions they were in desperate need of cover for. United are paying the price now with Luke Shaw and Benjamin Sesko injured.

Things started off so well for Carrick (Picture: Shutterstock)

Before the comeback victory over Roma, United’s only wins this season came at home to Ipswich and against Azerbaijan outfit Sabah. Following a particularly harrowing defeat to Como in the Champions League, club captain Bruno Fernandes publicly challenged the manager’s tactics with the skipper dropped for the subsequent game against Chelsea.

Following the 3-0 defeat at home to Bournemouth, Carrick was applauded off the pitch by supporters who instead turned their ire towards the players in a clear picture of where the frustration lies.

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^ ^ Mauricio Pochettino tipped to make former Chelsea star his first Manchester United signing

Incoming Manchester United boss Mauricio Pochettino (Picture: Getty)

Mauricio Pochettino has been tipped to sign Real Madrid defender and former Chelsea star Antonio Rudiger for Manchester United.

Pochettino is set to take charge at Old Trafford and replace Michael Carrick, who will be sacked following a dismal start to the season.

United are just 18th in the Premier League after ten games – their lowest position at this stage of a campaign since 1986.

Old Trafford bosses held a review into Carrick’s position earlier this week and appear to have decided to make a change in the dugout.

Eddie Howe, Fabian Hurzeler, Unai Emery, Antonio Conte and Julian Nagelsmann have all been linked with the Manchester United job in recent weeks.

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But United chose Pochettino as their first-choice pick this week and are currently finalising a deal to bring the Argentine back to the Premier League.

Pochettino, who will step down from his role as head coach of the USA to take over at Manchester United, has already worked at fellow English clubs Southampton, Tottenham and Chelsea, as well as Spanish side Espanyol and French giants PSG.

Michael Carrick is set to be sacked (Picture: PA)

One of the biggest problems for United this season has been a fragile defence and ex-Premier League striker Charlie Austin insists Pochettino ‘needs a whole new back-four’.

Austin believes Pochettino could look to sign someone like Rudiger, the Real Madrid and Germany centre-back who previously spent five years in England with Chelsea.

‘Manchester United need a whole new back-four,’ Austin told OLBG. ‘That’s first and foremost.

Real Madrid defender Antonio Rudiger (Picture: Getty)

‘They need someone who’s going to be aggressive. They’ve got Lisandro Martinez, but unfortunately he’s injured at the moment.

‘The problem is that there isn’t just one player Manchester United needs. They’re in a sorry state of affairs at the moment. They need a whole new back-four.

‘Their back-four is exactly the same as the one they had when they got beaten 7-0 by Liverpool. So that’s your starting point?

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‘I wouldn’t be surprised if Pochettino went for someone like Antonio Rudiger. Someone of that ilk: experienced, knows the Premier League, still mobile and still athletic. That’s where I think they should be looking.

‘Then you can build the defence around someone like that and bring in younger players.’

Austin also wondered whether Pochettino could target his former Chelsea player Cole Palmer after taking over at Manchester United.

Palmer enjoyed playing under Pochettino and was tentatively linked with a move to Old Trafford last summer amid reports he was not completely settled at Stamford Bridge.

‘Cole Palmer was phenomenal under Pochettino,’ Austin added. ‘He was unbelievable when he first came to Chelsea.

‘I wouldn’t put it past Pochettino. Chelsea and Manchester United do seem to have a strange relationship in the transfer market.’

If appointed, Pochettino’s first game in charge of the Red Devils will likely be a daunting trip to Anfield to face Liverpool immediately after the international break.

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^ ^ TCV: A hat-trick of headers and what makes a good summariser?

John Murray, Ian Dennis and Alistair Bruce-Ball return with more stories from the world of commentary.

John and Ian are at Wembley following the England squad announcement. Hear from Thomas Tuchel on Jobe Bellingham and Josh King's inclusions, and why it'll be difficult for Cole Palmer to get back into the squad.

John also tells us which crucial piece of equipment was missing for his trip to Barcelona. And who will prevail as Ian and Ali face-off in Clash of the Commentators?

TIMECODES 01:00 Ali's Champions League presenting gig 04:00 England squad announcement and Thomas Tuchel interview 15:00 John, Barcelona and lens wipes 21:00 What makes a good summariser? 25:40 A term for a hat-trick of headers 31:30 Clash of the Commentators 41:20 Unintended Pub Name of the Week 45:20 Great Glossary of Football

COMMENTARIES ON 5 LIVE/BBC SOUNDS

Saturday 7 November  1245 WSL: Chelsea v Everton - SPORTS EXTRA 1500:  Arsenal v Hull City - 5 LIVE 1500: Fulham v Newcastle - SPORTS EXTRA  1730: Nottingham Forest v Manchester City - 5 LIVE 1745: Aberdeen v Hibernian - SPORTS EXTRA 3 2000: Peterborough United v Reading - 5 Sports Extra 2000: St Mirren v Rangers - SPORTS EXTRA 3

Sunday 8 November  1200: Stafford Rangers v Grimsby Town - 5 Sports Extra 1400:  Crystal Palace v Liverpool- 5 LIVE  1400:  Brighton v Brentford - SPORTS EXTRA 2 1400:  Sunderland v Chelsea - SPORTS EXTRA 3 1400:  Ipswich v Bournemouth -  BBC SPORT WEBSITE 1600: Celtic v Kilmarnock - SPORTS EXTRA 3 1630:  Manchester United v Aston Villa - 5 LIVE 1800: Oldham Athletic v Sheffield Wednesday Sports Extra 3

Monday 9th 1930 Plymouth Parkway v Berkhamsted 5 Sport Extra

GREAT GLOSSARY OF FOOTBALL

DIVISION ONE 10 men behind the ball 50p head Agricultural challenge, Back of the net, Back to square one, Backside and elbows, The Beautiful Game, Booked, Bosman, Bullet header, Buying a penalty, Caretaker manager, Channel of joy, Checked and cleared, Coupon buster, Cross-come-shot Cruyff Turn, Cultured/educated left foot, Dead-ball specialist, Draught excluder, Elastico/flip-flap, False nine, Fox in the box, Giving the goalkeeper the eyes, Grub hunter, Header Head like a biscuit tin, Head like a sheriff’s badge, Head tennis, Hibs it, In a good moment, In behind, Lollipop, Magic of the FA Cup, “Make sure you watch Match of the Day tonight” The Maradona, Need one to get in off their backside, Off their line, Olimpico, Onion bag, Panenka, Parachute payment, Park the bus, Perfect hat-trick, Postage stamp, Put his cap on it, Rabona, Roy of the Rovers stuff, Schmeichel-style, Scorpion kick, Spursy, Stick it in the mixer, Sweeper keeper, Taking it to the corner flag, Target man, Tiki-taka, Tipped it over the bar Towering header, Trivela, UEFA penalty, Where the kookaburra sleeps, Where the owl sleeps, Where the spiders sleep, You could have two goalkeepers in there and they still wouldn’t have saved it.

^ ^ United's signs of life & can Villa compete with the elite?

Has Michael Carrick finally got the boost he needed as Manchester United come from two goals down to beat Roma 3-2? Kelly Cates is joined by Kasper Schmeichel, Eilidh Barbour, John Murray and Stephen Warnock to reflect on a crazy night at Old Trafford and what might be the boost Michael Carrick needed to save his job. The panel reflect on reaction from the United boss, as well as midfielder Youri Tielemans and, captain Bruno Fernandes who has a lot to say on the headlines surrounding him in recent weeks.

Aston Villa were put to the sword by free scoring Barcelona as Hansi Flick's side ran out 3-0 winners at the Nou Camp. Stephen Warnock and John Murray discuss what was a positive first half for Villa, but in the end Barca's quality was too much. Lamine Yamal and Raphinha once again stole the show for Flick's side as they make it three wins from four in the Champions League.

TIME CODES

00:00 United beat Roma 02:00 The comeback 10:12 Michael Carrick 12:22 What's the reaction from the players 20:40 What the win means for United and Carrick 22:44 Youri Tielemans 23:18 Baleba's injury 24:42 Bruno Fernandes 30:44 Barcelona beat Aston Villa 30:52 Unai Emery reacts 32:31 Barcelona's strength across the pitch 34:54 Hansi Flick 36:10 Lamine Yamal and Raphinha

^ ^ MNC: Serie A nostalgia & are Villa being kept out of the 'Big Six'?

Should Jamie Carragher have apologised for his comments about Aston Villa, what precedent does it set for those in football media and are Villa being kept out of the 'Big Six'? Just how good is Brighton's Bart Verbruggen? We discuss the data behind Sunderland and Nottingham Forest's seasons. And James Richardson joins Mark Chapman, Rory Smith, Chris Sutton and Shay Given to discuss Saturday's Milan derby, and how it felt to bring Serie A back to UK terrestrial television.

Timecodes: 2:00 Jamie Carragher's Aston Villa apology 16:30 James Richardson on Serie A nostalgia & the Milan derby 34:00 How good is Brighton's Bart Verbruggen? 41:00 Sunderland's tough start to the season 52:30 Forest's underlying numbers

^ ^ Peter Schmeichel makes bold title claim after Arsenal beat Liverpool

Arsenal are the big favourites to win the Premier League title, says Peter Schmeichel (Picture: DeFodi Images/Shutterstock)

Peter Schmeichel says he remains unconvinced that any team in the Premier League is capable of seriously challenging Arsenal following the side’s 1-0 victory over Liverpool.

Kai Havertz scored the only goal of the game on Merseyside to ensure Arsenal moved three points clear at the top of the table following Manchester City’s slip-up against high-flying Brighton.

The Gunners were also beaten by the Seagulls in September but have roared back emphatically in their last four matches, claiming maximum points and conceding just one goal in that time.

Sunday’s resilient win over Liverpool was their first at Anfield since as far back as 2012 and Mikel Arteta’s men will look to pick up where they left off when they return to top-flight action at home to Hull next weekend.

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The reigning English champions have a midweek trip to Slavia Prague to contend with first, though, and Arteta will no doubt be desperate for his squad to return to from the Czech Republic unscathed.

Andoni Iraola’s Liverpool enjoyed over 56 per cent of the possession against Arsenal and took 17 shots on goal compared to the visitors’ ten, although not one of those efforts was on target.

But Arsenal came on top with the one statistic that truly mattered in a spirited performance that left Manchester United legend Schmeichel even more confident that the north Londoners would defend their title.

Havertz’s 16th-minute strike proved decisive at Anfield (Picture: Getty)

Arteta’s men moved three points clear with the victory (Picture: Getty)

‘That performance, to come here to Anfield and win 1-0, I don’t care about the manner,’ he said on Viaplay.

‘We can discuss that and we’ve done that for two years now.

‘Now they are winners and I can’t see anyone, with that squad and what he has available to him, Arteta, who can challenge this team.’

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Schmeichel reserved special praise for Noni Madueke and credited Arteta with helping to turn the winger from just a ‘talent’ into a ‘fantastic football player’.

‘Remember when he was at Chelsea, we sat there right behind the bench, he got substituted in one of the games we covered,’ the Dane said of Madueke.

‘We all spoke about his behaviour afterwards… you never become a great player when you behave like that.

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‘Now, what we’ve just seen in the game [against Liverpool], it’s great manager work.

‘He’s produced a fantastic football player out of a great talent that we always thought was just going to be a talent.’

Ex-Arsenal winger Freddie Ljungberg was similarly glowing with his praise for Madueke and backed the England international to play a ‘very important’ role for the club over the coming months.

Madueke will be ‘very important’ for Arsenal this season, says Ljungberg (Picture: Getty)

‘He’s a top talent,’ Ljungberg, a member of Arsene Wenger’s Invincibles squad, explained.

‘He’s different to Bukayo [Saka]. Bukayo is more of a solid player, would you call it that? He stands and makes the right decisions, angles, shots, knows what he’s doing.

‘Madueke is a bit more: one against one and I’m going. Rapid, more direct and sometimes we criticise him, maybe, for his defensive effort. Is he at the right angle? Is he protecting the centre? What is he doing defensively? And he switches off.

‘But he did not do that against Liverpool. It was a very mature performance from him because that’s what we sometimes say, “Don’t switch off!”, and he didn’t.

‘He did really well and he’s going to be very important.’

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