Toby Alderweireld has backed Mauricio Pochettino to change the mentality at Manchester United, saying the former Tottenham boss will bring intensity to the team.
Michael Carrick has been dismissed as Red Devils manager, with the club confirming the news on Thursday morning. The club legend's interim stint from January to the end of last season had gone well, but his permanent spell in charge has been poor, with United winning just one of their 10 Premier League games this campaign.
Pochettino expected to take over
Pochettino is now expected to be announced as Carrick's replacement, with the USA manager set to leave his role and return to the Premier League, where he has previously managed Chelsea, Southampton and Spurs. His time at Tottenham was the most significant of his career, leading the club to a Champions League final and a second-place finish in the Premier League.
Alderweireld was a key part of that success, playing for Spurs from 2015 to 2021, and he has high hopes for his former boss at Old Trafford.
Alderweireld's verdict
'He will make players fit, that's for sure,' the Belgian told talkSPORT. 'Second of all he brings intensity. It's not like everyone is playing their own game, he wants a team that's going to be on the front foot. He wants to play pressure and having the ball as well.'
'A clear idea, intensity and players being fit, I think that's the way he likes to work.'
Alderweireld also expects Pochettino to want influence in the transfer market, saying: 'The summer, maybe the winter as well, the transfer window is going to be the players that he wants.'
'Also the facilities are going to be built also to the things that he wants. Making players fit, food-wise, gym-wise, everything needs to be how he wants it, that's a big part of his philosophy.'
'Then he'll want to buy the players. Maybe not always the biggest names, biggest talents, but guys with desire to win, desire to become better, desire to run. I think if you see the players he bought for Spurs, that's thing number one, the desire to become better, the desire to win games, wins duels, to run.'
'That's why I think Pochettino is the man for Man United, to change things around. In the past couple of transfer windows they've bought good players, good quality but they miss some chemistry, they miss the intensity and I think Pochettino will bring that.'
'He brings the mentality. If you work hard and bring your A game every single day, everything you want you can achieve. He will bring intensity and the mindset will change at Man United.'
