Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho says Mauricio Pochettino has talent to manage big European clubs
The Tottenham manager has been linked with Real Madrid recently
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Your support makes all the difference.Jose Mourinho believes Mauricio Pochettino has what it takes to follow in his footsteps and manage on European football’s most revered clubs, despite already being at a “big club” in Tottenham Hotspur.
Pochettino welcomes Mourinho’s Manchester United to Wembley on Wednesday night amid speculation that Real Madrid president Florentino Perez wants the Argentine to succeed under-fire head coach Zinedine Zidane.
Madrid currently sit fourth in La Liga, 19 points behind leaders Barcelona and, after finishing as runners-up behind Tottenham in their Champions League group, they must overcome Paris Saint-Germain to reach the competition’s quarter finals.
Mourinho took charge of Madrid between 2010 and 2013, lifting one Liga title and one Copa del Rey in that time, and despite knowing the challenges that come with managing one of the world’s biggest clubs, the United manager believes Pochettino has the attributes required.
“I think he has [what it takes],” he said on Monday, while previewing his United side’s trip to Wembley, though he insisted that in Tottenham, Pochettino is already managing a club of great stature.
“I think he is already at a big club as a start. I look at Spurs' history and I don't see a small club at all. I see a big club with big expectations and dreams to achieve.
“I think he's having that experience already at the highest level, Premier League and Tottenham Hotspur, we are speaking about high level football club, high level competition.
“So yes, I see him at Spurs for many years,” Mourinho added. “I also see him leaving and having a very good career at other clubs.”
Mourinho has come up against Pochettino on 13 separate occasions during his career, during his spells at Madrid, Chelsea and United - recording 10 wins, one draw and suffering two defeats.
Pochettino’s Tottenham beat United in the final game at the old White Hart Lane at the tailend of last season, but Mourinho took revenge in October, eking out a narrow 1-0 win when the two sides met at Old Trafford.
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