Former Manchester United defender Jaap Stam has suggested that the Reds are capable of prying Mauricio Pochettino from Tottenham because they are the ‘bigger club’.
The Dutchman, who played for United between 1998 and 2001, believes that the Argentine would be the ideal candidate to take over his former side on a permanent basis, and is sure that they have the might needed to do so.
Speaking to Sky Sports News, he said: “He is the best choice.
“He’s got a lot of experience working in the UK with Southampton and Tottenham.
“He’s good in building a team, plays attractive football, playing out from the back to score goals and win games. I would say that’s my choice.
“I think they can [get him]. There’s been a discussion at Spurs about not spending money on players, I think he is the type of manager who wants to invest every year and improve – at United he gets to do that.
“They’ve got the money to do that. For him that would be the ultimate step.”
He added: “The only thing is, and that’s a pity for Tottenham, there’s always a bigger club and that’s United.
“They’ve always got that little bit more to spend, they’re bigger all over the world. For a manager it’s ‘if I want to work at the top I need to be there to really show myself’.
“It doesn’t matter if they’re in the new stadium now or in the next season – if the opportunity is there then he wants to go.”
OPINION
Historically and commercially, Manchester United are without question a bigger club than Tottenham, but Stam’s comments are indicative of the exact arrogance that has put them where they are in the post-Ferguson era. It is trie that Spurs have a very strict spending policy, and it is more than likely that that has held them back in recent years, but with the opening of their new stadium, who’s to say what their future holds, and if United’s strategy under Moyes, van Gaal, and Mourinho has taught us anything, it’s that you can’t just throw money at a problem. Pochettino might be tempted by the glitz and glamour of United, but right now they are a long way off Spurs, and he would only take the gig under the understanding that it is seen for what it is – a rebuilding job. To imply that the Argentine would jump at the opportunity to move to Old Trafford is not only disrespectful to Spurs, but also suggests that Pochettino is in possession of the same shallow approach to management and funding that has landed United in their current mess.