Pochettino would have the ideal chance to revive Manchester United, says Redknapp

Harry Redknapp believes Mauricio Pochettino could not fail at Manchester United because the club’s current problems mean the only realistic direction is upwards.

The former Tottenham Hotspur manager said the Argentine would be taking on a very different challenge from those who succeeded Sir Alex Ferguson, as United have fallen into such a difficult situation that improving the team would represent an immediate opportunity.

Writing in The Sun, Redknapp described Manchester United as being “in a mess” but said there was no better time for Pochettino to take charge.

“Things can only get better for Manchester United with Pochettino,” he said. “He certainly won’t take them down, he won’t do that.”

Redknapp recalled accepting the Tottenham Hotspur job in October 2008, when the club had endured what he described as the worst start in its history.

“When the Tottenham job was offered to me, and they were in trouble after their worst-ever start, it was a no-brainer,” he said.

He argued that managers view appointments of this kind as opportunities that cannot be ignored, particularly when a club’s position leaves them with little to lose and considerable scope to improve.

Redknapp added that taking over immediately after Ferguson’s departure would have created a far more demanding task for Pochettino. In that situation, the manager would have been expected to improve a side that still possessed a significant legacy and a high level of success.

He pointed to David Moyes, who was selected by Ferguson as his successor, saying that everyone knew how that appointment eventually ended.

Redknapp also revealed that he has a friendly relationship with Pochettino. The pair share the same birthday, 2 March, and met on their birthdays when Pochettino was manager of Southampton and Redknapp was in charge of Queens Park Rangers.

“We won!” Redknapp said.

He added that he had worked with Pochettino during the charity match Soccer Aid and described him as an extremely intelligent and well-informed person.

Redknapp believes Pochettino and his assistant Jesus Perez could improve the atmosphere at Old Trafford and the training ground, bringing some smiles back to the club. However, he said their football knowledge and ability to build teams would be just as important in the next phase.

The main issue, he suggested, would be whether Manchester United’s executives were prepared to provide Pochettino with the players he needed to succeed.

Redknapp called the current squad “shocking” and said even the greatest manager could achieve little with poor players. Any coach, regardless of ability, would struggle to win without the right personnel, he added.

He also criticised the people responsible for running Manchester United, saying he found it difficult to understand some of those involved in appointing managers. In his view, confusion over recruitment and inconsistent decisions regarding coaching staff had contributed significantly to the club’s problems.

Redknapp further condemned the way United handled Carrick’s departure. He described the treatment as shocking, saying Carrick had been a great player for the club and a wonderful person, but had been treated very badly, particularly after reports of his exit were leaked before the official announcement.