Mauricio Pochettino would improve five Manchester United players if he became manager

The careers of Erik ten Hag and Mauricio Pochettino have often intertwined.

Whenever they've met on the pitch, however, the Argentinian has usually come out on top in dramatic circumstances. When they first clashed in an epic 2019 Champions League semi-final, Pochettino's Tottenham Hotspur left it late – very late – to seal the win over Ten Hag's Ajax. In the Premier League season just gone, again Pochettino was in the winning dugout thanks to a late flurry of goals, as Chelsea beat Manchester United in a thrilling 4-3.

Two years ago, of course, they were both in the running for the United job – a race won by Ten Hag. United, long-term admirers of Pochettino – who they'd considered hiring in 2018 and 2020 – veered towards the Dutchman due to his trophy record in the Netherlands.

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Yet United do not seem to be able to kick their Pochettino cravings and here we are again, with the former PSG defender heavily linked to the Old Trafford hotseat once again.

Of course, Ten Hag still has a job for the next few days at least, and possibly longer. His case will be helped no end if United triumph in the FA Cup final this weekend.

There's always been a pull for United with Pochettino and perhaps it's his stellar record with young homegrown players that makes him desirable.

The Argentinian left Tottenham without a trophy to his name – a stick often used to beat him – but during his five-year stint he developed and improved a clutch of talented English players, nurturing them from the youth academy to the top table of European football.

Even before he was at Tottenham,