Can Pochettino Do What Carrick Couldn't at Man Utd?

Mauricio Pochettino is set to become Manchester United's next manager, and the appointment has revived an old debate at Old Trafford: can a coach who admires Sir Alex Ferguson's methods succeed where the club's recent caretakers and short-term fixes did not?

Pochettino's appeal is easy to explain. He has spent much of his career building teams that press high, play with energy and get young players to perform above their reputations. At Tottenham he turned a squad with limited resources into a consistent Champions League side. He also talks about the club's identity in the same language Ferguson used, with an emphasis on standards in training, togetherness and a clear sense of who the players are meant to be. That is the part of the job United have lacked since Ferguson left in 2013.

The harder question is tactical. Carrick took charge with a reputation as a calm, intelligent operator who understood the dressing room, and he delivered moments of improvement. But his spells showed how difficult it is to fix a side that lacks a settled shape and a clear pattern in midfield. Players who were used to one system were asked to adapt to another, and the results rarely lasted long enough to prove a direction.

Pochettino's problem will be different. His teams have often looked more convincing when the press works and the front line is fit and sharp. When the press breaks down, the gaps behind it can be exposed quickly, and his sides have at times struggled to control matches they were not dominating. United's squad will need a clear plan for how the team defends in transition and how the midfield protects the back line when the press is bypassed.

There is also the question of recruitment. A high-intensity system asks a lot of full-backs, wide players and central midfielders, and United will need players who can cover ground for ninety minutes without a drop in quality. The club's recent transfer record suggests that buying the right profile is as important as the coaching itself.

Pochettino has the credentials and the willingness to rebuild a culture. What he has to prove is that he can turn that culture into a repeatable style that holds up against the best sides in the Premier League. If he can do that, the Ferguson comparison will be earned. If not, United will be looking for their next manager sooner than anyone at the club would like.