Tottenham vs Man Utd: The ideal audition for both Pochettino and Solskjaer

This Sunday’s match between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United can arguably be billed as an audition for the vacant full time manager post at Old Trafford. The top 2 bookies favorites to grab the seat, Mauricio Pochettino and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, go head to head in this evenly poised Wembley showdown.

Pochettino does go into this game with the upper hand both with Spurs playing at home and currently ten points clear of Man United with the ambition of challenging for the Premier League title. Tottenham started off this season with a huge gamble of not signing a single player in the summer transfer window. The fact that they sit 3rd in the table while missing at least one of their star players through injury at different intervals in the season is definitely a testament to Pochettino’s man management. His ability to get the best out the players available at his disposal stands out as one of his unique qualities.

United’s season has been one to forget as they failed to build on their 2nd place finish from last season. It seemed as if the whole club was in a state of confusion since the beginning of the season. With players failing to give their all nor adapting to Jose Mourinho’s tactics, with the manager failing to get the best out of the players at his disposal and refusing to take his fair share of blame in the process, with the board sending out mixed signals of backing the manager with a new contract but failing to back him with new recruits in the transfer market, this season was turning out to be the inevitable 3rd season downfall syndrome of Mourinho.

Solskjaer’s appointment came as a surprise in the aftermath of Mourinho’s sacking. The job at hand was to steady the sinking ship and finish the season on a positive note. After 5 games as interim manager Solskjaer has definitely turned United’s momentum with his infectious smile and attacking game play. Players are given the freedom to express themselves and they have responded back in some fashion. Although it was a fairly easy run of fixtures, he can only beat whats put in front of him. His ambition of becoming the full time manager is taking some form of shape with each passing week.

Sunday’s game is definitely the first big test Solskjaer is about to face. And its all the more ironic that it is against the manager who the world believes (except for Spurs fans) is the ideal candidate for the job. On one hand, defeat for Spurs will not dent Pochettino’s credentials of the top manager he is but a victory will just confirm the stance that Pochettino is the man for the job. Solskjaer on the other hand has more to lose, with defeat severely denting the progress he’s made so far and possibly confirming that he’s not ready to manage a club like Man Utd full-time just yet.

Lack of trophies, promoting youth and attacking philosophy are all the traits shared by both managers. One is a proven quantity in the league whereas the other is knitted with the long lost United DNA that its craving for now. There is so much at stake apart from 3 points in this fixture which could well turn out to be a history defining moment for both the clubs Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United and their current managers Mauricio Pochettino and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Written by @naren_foxy