Forgotten Man Utd star should be the biggest winner from Pochettino’s arrival – Opinion
Mauricio Pochettino’s imminent arrival at Manchester United could give a new lease of life to Joshua Zirkzee.
On Thursday, Michael Carrick was finally relieved from his misery. The 45-year-old had been a dead man walking at Carrington since Monday, but the club finally confirmed his sacking this morning.
The 45-year-old endured a miserable run since the start of the season, as Man Utd now find themselves in the relegation zone after collecting a single win in their first 10 Premier League fixtures.
Carrick will leave his place in the dugout for Pochettino, who has been identified as the ideal profile to succeed the Wellsend native.
Joshua Zirkzee could finally regain his starting role under Pochettino
While the official confirmation is still missing, Pochettino to United is considered a done deal, with the club already agreeing to activate the manager’s £7.4 million release clause and thus freeing him from his contract with the USMNT.
The Argentine will oversee the nation’s next two games against Haiti before heading to Carrington next Wednesday or Thursday.
Pochettino will only conduct two or three training sessions before his baptism of fire at Anfield, but at this stage, picking Zirkzee for a starting role against Liverpool feels like a long-overdue sensible decision, one that Carrick inexplicably defied.
| Zirkzee’s Stats Under Man Utd Coaches | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|
| Erik ten Hag | 13 | 1 | 2 |
| Ruud van Nistelrooy | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Ruben Amorim | 46 | 8 | 2 |
| Darren Fletcher | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Michael Carrick | 20 | 0 | 2 |
With Benjamin Sesko ruled out with a long-term injury, the Dutchman is the only available striker in Man Utd’s first team. And yet, Carrick had opted to play either Matheus Cunha or Bryan Mbeumo in the centre-forward role, a choice that often fell flat.
On the contrary, Zirkzee has constantly been able to display flashes of brilliance despite his limited playing time. For instance, he scored Man Utd’s third goal against Aston Villa shortly after his introduction, paving the way for Patrick Dorgu’s last-gasp equaliser.
Could a Zirkzee revival change Man Utd’s January plans?
If Pochettino can unlock the best version of Zirkzee, he would have a formidable attacking option at his disposal, an unorthodox striker capable of lending a hand in the buildup and disrupting backlines with his unusual movement, in addition to his basic function as a goal threat.
Nevertheless, this shouldn’t be enough to shore up the department, as Sesko hasn’t been fully fit since May. Some sources expect him to return in January, but United would want to avoid another relapse, so he should be allowed to gradually reintegrate himself into the team.
Consequently, Jason Wilcox and Co. should take the opportunity to rectify their summer mistakes by recruiting a new striker, not to mention bolstering the left-back position.
