Pochettino could “absolutely” turn down Man United says Premier League manager

Cardiff City manager Neil Warnock has said Mauricio Pochettino could “absolutely” resist Manchester United but must forget his loyalty to Tottenham if the Red Devils offer him a job next summer.

Pochettino has been heavily linked with the United job since Jose Mourinho was sacked earlier this month. It is believed the Argentinian is at the top of the list to take over from caretaker boss Ole Gunnar Solksjaer at the end of the season.

Over the summer, Pochettino signed a new long-term contract with Spurs and has repeatedly spoken of his intention to lead the Londoners into their new White Hart Lane-based stadium once construction is complete.

But Warnock, whose Cardiff side host Tottenham on New Year’s Day, thinks Pochettino shouldn’t let his loyalty to Spurs get in the way of a potential move to Old Trafford.

“You do feel guilty, loyalty-wise. You feel that you don’t want to let anybody down,” Warnock said in a press conference on Friday (via Sky Sports).

“But, I remember when I got promotion with Notts County, Chelsea offered me a job and I thought a lot about it, turned it down and got the sack six months later. So when people talk about loyalty, I think that is a load of bull.

“You have got to do what is right for you. There is a good time to leave a club and you have got to decide if that is the right time. Not just Pochettino, but any manager.

“Absolutely [Pochettino could turn down United]. The grass is not always greener. Sir Alex [Ferguson] knew when he left that the place was not the same. They’d lost a lot and no one has been able to put that back.

“It is still a big test for him (Pochettino). Does he want that sort of challenge when he has got a new stadium and a squad he knows inside out?

“But Manchester United are one of the biggest clubs in the world and you don’t get that opportunity very often.”

It seems the media has resorted to asking other mangers about Pochettino and United after Spurs banned talk about the speculation in their own press conferences. Expect this to continue for some time.