Manchester United news LIVE: Lucien Favre and Rudi Garcia interview for interim job
Michael Carrick guided the Red Devils to victory in Spain over Villarreal as interim manager, securing a place in the last 16 of the Champions League
Manchester United won their first match of the post-Ole Gunnar Solskjaer era on Tuesday night as Cristiano Ronaldo and Jadon Sancho scored in a 2-0 victory at Villarreal.
Michael Carrick made a few tweaks to the starting line-up but saw his side frustrated for the first hour, with David de Gea making a vital save. However, the introduction of Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford from the bench sparked United into life and the victory ensured they will advance to the knockout stages.
Meanwhile, in the background, United’s manager search rumbles on. Mauricio Pochettino is reported to be at the head of that queue though, with The Independent learning that the former Tottenham and Southampton boss is keen to take over at Old Trafford - and could even do so mid-season.
If it can’t happen until summer and United follow the interim boss route until then as they announced, Ernesto Valverde is one of the leading candidates for the post with Lucien Favre and Rudi Garcia also being conside.
Follow all the latest updates and reaction from El Madrigal, plus United’s search for both an interim boss and a long-term solution:
Next Manchester United manager odds
Rumours continue to swirl over the identity of Manchester United’s next permanent manager.
Mauricio Pochettino is the frontrunner at this stage but with the likes of Ernesto Valverde and Rudi Garcia apparently being considered in the interim their names also feature high up in the betting.
Michael Carrick is the man in possession and won his first game in charge, against Villarreal in the Champions League on Tuesday night.
These are the latest odds on who will take the job full-time:
Mauricio Pochettino 6/4
Ernesto Valverde 9/2
Michael Carrick 6/1
Rudi Garcia 10/1
Brendan Rodgers 12/1
Erik ten Hag 14/1
Ralf Rangnick 14/1
Diego Simeone 17/1
Luis Enrique 33/1
Zinedine Zidane 33/1
Laurent Blanc 40/1
PSG in contact with Pochettino replacements
Paris Saint-Germain have been in contact with Zinedine Zidane and coaches like Antonio Conte in the last few months, in a situation that could yet see Mauricio Pochettino join Manchester United before the end of the season.
The Argentine has leapt to the top of United's list of targets, after it was made clear to them that he would be interested in. making the deal happen and soon. While there had been a perception that PSG would be reluctant to let Pochettino leave, The Independent has been told that all parties have been viewing the current arrangement as temporary.
The Qatari-owned club have naturally kept options open after failing to win the French title last year, but Pochettino himself has found aspects of the club so difficult to manage that he looked into leaving in the summer. A return to Tottenham Hotspur was at one point seen as a strong possibility.
PSG have consequently kept dialogue open with a few top managers. They included Didier Deschamps, Conte before he moved to Spurs, and Zidane.
Zidane has been wanted by United, but most view any move as impossible for a variety of reasons. His family don't want him to take a job in England, he would have to improve his English and - most of all - he would prefer to bide his time for a role with PSG or the French national team.
Sources close to Zidane in Madrid maintain that there could yet be a situation that keeps everyone happy, with the French star going to PSG, and Pochettino to Old Trafford. While that had been a possibility raised for the end of the season, figures involved increasingly thing it could be something that happens sooner than then.
Much will depend on United's own will, and whether they are sufficiently attracted by Pochettino to try and get him now or in the French mid-season break.
Lucien Favre and Rudi Garcia interview for interim job
Lucien Favre and Rudi Garcia are the latest names to have been interviewed for the interim manager position at Manchester United.
Former Barca Ernesto Valverde has spoken to the club already, while Ralf Rangnick is set to be interviewed too.
United are also focused predominantly on an interim appointment, with the Telegraphreporting that no approach has been made to PSG over Mauricio Pochettino.
This would naturally represent a long-term commitment should the Ligue 1 club be receptive to an approach, with the Argentine thought to be open to a move back to the Premier League.
Sancho told to kick on after starring role against Villarreal
Michael Carrick has told Jadon Sancho he is in control of his own destiny after he got his first Manchester United goal in Tuesday’s 2-0 win over Villarreal.
Sancho scored United’s second in the last minute of the 90 at El Madrigal after Cristiano Ronaldo put the visitors in front with 12 minutes left of another Champions League late show, giving caretaker Carrick victory in the first game since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s dismissal.
Sancho has been slow to fire since his £73million move from Borussia Dortmund in the summer, but the goal capped the England forward’s best display yet for United.
“For Jadon it’s a massive boost,” Carrick said. “It’s a big goal for him, but it was about his performance overall. We know how much Jadon likes the ball at his feet, you see the smile on his face, but the pleasing thing for me was the effort and application he put in.
“At times he was not seeing a lot of the ball but he was always doing a job and playing a big part in the team’s performance. In the end you get your rewards and I’m delighted for him.
“I think Jadon epitomised the team performance. It’s up to Jadon now what happens next and how he kicks on. He’s got all the talent in the world and he’ll get all our support for sure.”
Manchester United win was for Ole, says Carrick
United won their first game since the departure of Solskjaer, a 2-0 victory at Villarreal in the Champions League.
“It’s not been an easy couple of days for anyone at the club and that result almost feels like it’s for Ole,” Carrick said afterwards.
“We had a job to do and things needed to be taken care of. I was happy to do it and thankfully it all went to plan.
“When you’ve suffered results-wise and aren’t in good form, individually and as a team, it’s not easy to come out and let everything click. We had to show some character and fight.”
Next Manchester United manager odds
These are the latest favourites to take the job full-time:
Mauricio Pochettino 6/4
Ernesto Valverde 9/2
Michael Carrick 6/1
Rudi Garcia 10/1
Brendan Rodgers 12/1
Erik ten Hag 14/1
Ralf Rangnick 14/1
Diego Simeone 17/1
Luis Enrique 33/1
Zinedine Zidane 33/1
Laurent Blanc 40/1
Next Manchester United manager: Lucien Favre and Rudi Garcia interview for interim job
Lucien Favre and Rudi Garcia are the latest names to be have been interviewed for the interim manager position at Manchester United.
Ernesto Valverde has spoken to the club already, while Ralf Rangnick is set to be interviewed too.
United are also focused predominantly on an interim appointment, with the Telegraph reporting that no approach has been made to PSG over Mauricio Pochettino.
This would naturally represent a long-term commitment should the Ligue 1 club be receptive to an approach, with the Argentine thought to be open to a move back to the Premier League.
Next Manchester United manager: Ralf Rangnick preferred option as interim boss
Manchester United have added Ralf Rangnick to the list of managers to take over at Old Trafford as interim manager.
The Manchester Evening News report that the current head of sports and development at Lokomotiv Moscow is the preferred option to see out the season if they cannot land Mauricio Pochettino mid-season.
An initial approach for the Argentinian has been rejected by PSG.
Johan Guadagno reveals departure was ‘a bit of a surprise’ for Manchester United
Johan Guadagno insists his Manchester United exit last summer was ‘a bit of a surprise’ for the club.
Despite two years remaining on his deal, the young goalkeeper moved on to FC Copenhagen and has told Tipsbladet his motivation to depart came from a desire to accelerate his development.
“I had two years left on my contract at Manchester United. I told my mom I did not want to be there anymore,” he said.
“I need to train with the first team for my own development. And it has been a good decision. They were not hard to negotiate with, but I felt it came as a bit of a surprise to them that I wanted to leave.
“I thought the road to the first team was a bit closed. That’s the feeling I had. It wasn’t for me, so I decided to leave. It was a dream come true and now it’s time to wake up and start working hard to become the best professional goalkeeper I can be.”
Next Manchester United manager: Zinedine Zidane holding up move for Mauricio Pochettino
Mauricio Pochettino’s potential move to Manchester United can only happen if PSG can secure a deal for Zinedine Zidane and AS report that initial negotiations have been cold.
While Zidane is said to be “flattered”, he believes it’s “complicated” to accept a job mid-season.
That could force United into a decision over waiting for Pochettino until next summer or moving for another target if another interim boss does not appeal.
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