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'Woodward has a decision to make' | Kenny Cunningham on Pochettino

Manchester United Executive Vice-Chairman Ed Woodward has a big decision to make regarding the fu...



Soccer

'Woodward has a decision to make' | Kenny Cunningham on Pochettino

Manchester United Executive Vice-Chairman Ed Woodward has a big decision to make regarding the future of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer considering Mauricio Pochettino is available to sign, according to Kenny Cunningham. 

The former Ireland captain was speaking on Monday's OTB AM and noted Woodward's predicament of keeping the fans happy while the club is struggling under fan-favourite Solskjaer.

"I think Pochettino for me is the strong option he really is. If I was Ed Woodward I wouldn't personally be picking up the phone to Pochettino or his reps but I'd be speaking to intermediaries who could speak to him and I'd be sounding him out and asking what his intentions are.

"Would he be prepared to sit to the end of the season if this job was to become available and just find out what his initial thoughts are but for me, he's an outstanding manager and actually would be a very good, fit at Manchester United but it's a delicate one. Would he wait until the end of the season?

"He has come out publicly and said he wants to get back into football and get back quickly. Perhaps they could give him that guarantee now that that job is his at the end of the season and save themselves a little bit of face in the meantime by keeping Solskjaer in the job."

However, Cunningham warned that to get rid of Solskjaer before the end of the season would make Woodward even more of a polarising figure at Old Trafford.

"That's the hardest decision to make. He'd have to kind of fall on his own sword to some extent, in terms of public support and how he's been beside the manager.

"If he thinks Pochettino is the one he desperately wants and the one he wanted last summer but he just couldn't get out of Tottenham. He is available now and if intermediaries are saying, 'look he's not going be available in the summer. He's not prepared to wait, he will take this job now if you offer it to him in the next month.'

"That is the big decision that Woodward has to make. I think that's the case. If that's the case and those circumstances are facing Woodward then he has to bite the bullet as tough as people think that is on Solskjaer.

"Medium to long term it's probably the right thing for Manchester United Football Club. It's a tough call to make but it's probably the right call in this moment and the circumstances that they are."

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