Mauricio Pochettino has yet to take his first training session at Manchester United, but reports suggest he already has a clear sense of who fits his plans. The Argentine is due to begin work on Wednesday, Nov. 18, leaving just four days before United travel to Anfield to face Liverpool next Sunday.

With so little time to assess the squad in person, it is hardly surprising that he may lean on prior impressions. According to The Telegraph, Marcus Rashford is a player Pochettino has “always loved,” while Bruno Fernandes, Kobbie Mainoo, Carlos Baleba, Amad Diallo, Patrick Dorgu and Luke Shaw are also thought to be among those most likely to benefit from the new manager’s backing.

There is, however, an immediate complication. Rashford, Baleba and Shaw are all injured at present. There is hope the England pair can recover before the end of the international break, but Baleba’s hamstring problem, suffered in the dramatic win over Roma, is likely to delay his first appearance under Pochettino.

Fernandes is a particularly interesting case. During United’s search for a new manager, some reports suggested candidates were wary of the dressing room’s unruly reputation. Fernandes, as captain, did little to quiet that perception when he publicly criticised Michael Carrick’s tactics against Como.

The Portuguese playmaker objected to Carrick’s instruction not to press and instead ran around on his own, to the wider detriment of the team. That may not trouble Pochettino, whose reputation has been built on a high-energy pressing approach that could suit Fernandes.

Mainoo, meanwhile, has reportedly earned Pochettino’s approval despite questions over his energy and endurance that were raised by Ruben Amorim. The new manager is said to value the midfielder’s control in possession more highly than any physical reservations.

Another familiar principle should arrive more quickly: overlapping fullbacks. Pochettino used that pattern at Southampton, where Shaw thrived, and later at Tottenham Hotspur, Paris Saint-Germain and the U.S. Dorgu could be especially important on the left because of his athleticism and attacking instincts. Shaw, whose attacking threat has declined, could even be used as a centre back to support him.

Pochettino may already have favourites, but Gary Neville believes he will be just as decisive with the players he does not want. “I actually remember going to see him at Tottenham in his very early days,” the eight-time Premier League champion told Sky Sports News. “He had a whiteboard in front of him in his office with all the players’ names on little markers and he actually moved a group of players over to the left-hand side of the board and said: ‘These are the ones I know I need to get rid of. These are the ones I know I can work with and build around.’

“He’s got to identify that very quickly at United and I’m sure he will do that. He’s more experienced now than he was when he was at Tottenham.”

The challenge, of course, is not only identifying the unwanted players, but finding a way to move them on.

Mauricio Pochettino has finally taken over as Manchester United’s permanent head coach, arriving with the scale of the task already clear. After a disastrous start to the 2026/27 campaign, the challenge is not simply to improve results, but to steady a club that has sunk into one of its darkest post-Sir Alex Ferguson periods.

United are stuck in the relegation zone with only three wins from their first 15 league matches, and the mood inside the dressing room is understandably fragile. Even encouraging recoveries against Roma and Aston Villa under Michael Carrick were greeted with frustration rather than celebration. After the 4-4 draw with Aston Villa, Patrick Dorgu said: “I don’t feel happy—we are in a bad situation. We need to fight together to get out of it. Draw better than a loss but we had the better opportunities,”

That is the atmosphere Pochettino inherits. Recent comments from Lisandro Martínez and Bruno Fernandes suggest discontent is rising, and the new manager’s first job will be to rebuild belief. He has a strong reputation as a communicator, but this squad needs more than positivity.

The defensive situation is especially alarming. United have conceded 30 goals, with only Lens worse across Europe’s top five leagues, while they also hold the Premier League’s third-worst defensive record. They have let in two or more goals in each of their last five matches. The problem was compounded by a summer in which defensive reinforcements were ignored, leaving Pochettino to work with an unbalanced back line until January.

Injuries have further complicated the picture. Benjamin Šeško is out until January, Joshua Zirkzee is the only senior centre forward available, Luke Shaw’s absence has pushed Diogo Dalot into an unnatural role at left back, and Manuel Ugarte and Carlos Baleba are both sidelined or struggling with fitness concerns.

Off the pitch, Pochettino must navigate a fractured relationship between supporters and the hierarchy. Criticism of the Glazer family, INEOS, Omar Berrada and Jason Wilcox remains fierce, and the new coach will not escape it. He also steps into a job that has worn down several accomplished managers before him, from José Mourinho to Louis van Gaal, Ten Hag and Amorim. At United, the warning signs are well known.

Michael Carrick has spoken publicly for the first time since being removed as Manchester United manager, using social media to deliver a measured and emotional farewell to the club and its supporters.

His departure came after the 4-4 draw with Aston Villa, a result that proved decisive as the club used the November international break to make a change and appoint Mauricio Pochettino, the U.S. men’s national team manager, in his place.

Carrick’s statement was notable for its warmth and for the emphasis he placed on what Manchester United means to those inside it. He wrote that he was “incredibly grateful” for the chance to lead the side he loves, while also paying tribute to the staff, players and fans who supported him during his time in charge.

“I’ve had the immense privilege of leading Manchester United, the football club that I love,” Carrick wrote on Instagram . “There are very few who get to live that and feel it, and for that I’m incredibly grateful.

“With that comes huge responsibility, and to be at Manchester United, you need to understand exactly what that means. It’s different to anywhere else.

“Ultimately, you need to push to be the best, but there is a culture, there are values and there are behaviors that you have to live by and respect, which have been built over a long period of time. It’s a football club that is unique, with substance and history that cannot be ignored. This is what inspired me every single day.

“I want to say a big thank you to the supporters. I must say, you are a special, rare breed.

“We’ve had some great times this year and moments we’ll all remember. The best thing about being in my position was seeing so many of you lose yourselves in the emotion of those moments, leaving the stadium desperate to come back again next time.

“I just wanted to give you something back. That love never dies.

“I know we’ve not had the results lately, but you’ve shown me nothing but love and support in times when the easiest thing, and what most end up doing, would be to turn the other way. That means more than a win or two. That’s what makes you who you are. That’s why I fell in love with this club all those years ago.

“A special thank you to my coaching staff. You gave me everything you had, every single day, and I couldn’t have asked for any more. I’m incredibly grateful for your loyalty, hard work and support throughout. To all the staff behind the scenes, thank you for everything you do for this football club. So much of your work goes unseen, but it never goes unappreciated.

“And to the players, thank you for your efforts and the moments we’ve shared. I wish you all the very best for what’s ahead.

“I want nothing but success for Manchester United. This club has been such a big part of my life and that will never change. I’ll always be proud to have played my part and I’ll always want the very best for it. I’ll be right there with you from now on, watching from the sidelines, cheering the lads on.”

Support for Carrick also arrived from Gary Neville, who criticised the way the club handled the dismissal. Reports of Carrick’s exit had already emerged on Monday, yet he was not formally removed for another three days and still took first-team training on Tuesday and Wednesday while waiting for confirmation. The process ended with CEO Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox telling him face-to-face after discussions with co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe in Monaco.

“It’s just quite simply disgusting. That falls well below the standard of what you would expect in any other business, in any other industry. It would be constructive dismissal and you’d be getting sued.

“The optics of being in Monaco whilst the team, the staff, the people who are running the club on a day-to-day basis are in Manchester, it’s just not good and it reflects badly on the leadership. I don’t think anybody comes out of this well at all.”