Monday night Premier League football see Jose Mourinho‘s Manchester United up against Mauricio Pochettino‘s Tottenham Hotspur side at Old Trafford. In some reports, Pochettino has long been touted as Mourinho’s successor at Man United and we take a look at how the two managers measure up ahead of their meeting.
There could be need for a new manager at Old Trafford sooner rather than later if their slow start to the Premier League new season continues in this fashion following a lacklustre 2-1 over Leicester City and a humiliating 3-2 loss at Brighton.
Mourinho has never lost a home game against Tottenham over his managerial career winning thirteen and drawn four in 21 matches while also boasting of a remarkable record of never having lost a home game against Tottenham during his time as Chelsea, Real Madrid and Manchester United boss.
Mourinho has long held a strong reputation as a manager who wins silverware, even if the Portuguese man isn’t always the most likeable of characters, having delivered three Premier League trophies, one Champions League title, one Europa League, one FA Cup and four League Cups during his various stints as a manager in England.
However, there is a growing feeling among fans that Mourinho has lost touch with modern football, and the Portuguese boss can no longer deal with the current crops of footballers these days as he has fallen behind the likes of Pochettino, Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola when it comes to handling players like this.
Pochettino, on the other hand, is seen as the future and yet the 46-year-old is still searching for a first trophy following more than four years at the helm of Tottenahm. He was appointed in May 2014, but since then, the Argentine has struggled in head-to-head meetings with Mourinho in the past, losing 11 of their 15 managerial clashes (drawn one, lost three).
In fact, Pochettino’s record when it comes to facing the very best in England is remarkable poor, particularly away from home. Tottenham have won just two (drawn seven, lost seven) of against the Premier League’s ‘big six’ of Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal, and Chelsea. And it could be said that this is the reason why Spurs have fall short when it comes to the title race.
Monday night’s match against the Red Devils is a chance for Mauricio Pochettino to rectify these numbers and prove that he is indeed the future some have spoken of. A win at Old Trafford on Monday could even be his job audition if some array of Man Utd fans get their way while this for Mourinho, on the other hand, will serve as an opportunity for him to prove that he is still relevant in this modern day football, and a chance to enhance a superb record against Spurs and, quite possibly, a chance to save his job.
Predictions:
All being said, I am still backing Tottenham to thrash Man United at their very home. This should end by two goals to Spurs and one to the Red Devils. 1-2.