Gary Lineker has said he would be surprised if Mauricio Pochettino remains Manchester United manager for 18 months, given the club's current struggles.
Pochettino has been appointed as Michael Carrick's replacement, leaving his role with the United States national team to take the job. The Argentine was first linked with the Old Trafford post around eight years ago, when his work at Tottenham put him in contention to succeed Jose Mourinho in 2018.
After spells at Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and the US, Pochettino has now taken charge of a United side sitting in the Premier League relegation zone. The club's hierarchy has faced criticism over a series of poor decisions.
Lineker's warning on Pochettino's prospects
Carrick and Ruben Amorim, the previous two managers, both failed to stay in the role for 18 months. Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast, Lineker said he expects Pochettino to face similar difficulties.
"I see Pochettino going in there, and I think they'll probably get off to a reasonable start, and they'll do okay for a while. I think for Pochettino, it's a big club, Manchester United, big by name. He'll go on there, and then he'll be disappointed with the way things occur in the future, and if he's still there in 18 months, I'll be surprised," Lineker said.
"Because again and again, it's rinse and repeat; the scapegoat is always the coach, and you can see that. And I think the real problems are above the coach. These guys are all good coaches. You look at some of the names they've had in the last 10 years. What's that, 12 coaches now who have gone since Alex Ferguson? And they all leave and they say the club's a mess."
Pochettino's emotional departure and squad issues
Pochettino was tearful when confirming his exit from the USA, but said the offer was one he could not turn down. "It's difficult to talk now. I'm a very emotional guy. It's a very sad decision. But we are professionals and we are trying to make our dreams come true," he said.
United have managed just one win in their last ten league games. The defence has been neglected over several transfer windows and requires reinforcements. Bruno Fernandes, last year's PFA Player of the Year, has rejected a new contract offer, while the club's main number nine, Benjamin Sesko, remains sidelined.
