Manchester United's expected appointment of Mauricio Pochettino as Michael Carrick's successor brings no guarantee of an instant revival, with the Argentine's track record showing a pattern of slow starts at his previous clubs.
The former Tottenham and Chelsea manager is poised for a return to the Premier League after United approached him, having lost patience with Carrick, who was sacked on Thursday after overseeing just one win from 10 Premier League games this season, leaving the club in the relegation zone.
Pochettino's Record of Slow Beginnings
Pochettino made a slow start at Chelsea, where he oversaw just one win from his first six league games. The same was true at Southampton and Espanyol, while at Tottenham he won two and drew two of his opening fixtures. He fared better at Paris Saint-Germain, where he took the job mid-season and won four of his first six Ligue 1 games.
Despite those slow starts, Pochettino went on to enjoy success in those roles. Chelsea's decision to part company with him after finishing fifth in his only season at the helm attracted scrutiny at the time, though his work at Stamford Bridge looks better with age given the club's fortunes since his departure.
Immediate Fixtures and the Road Ahead
Pochettino is likely to remain in his current post as United States head coach for both of the team's fixtures with Haiti during this break. Their second fixture is not played until the early hours of Wednesday morning, meaning his arrival in Manchester could be close to the wire for the return of the Premier League.
His first game in charge is likely to be a daunting trip to arch-rivals Liverpool on the Sunday, before an away Champions League tie against Sporting Lisbon. Games against Brentford, Newcastle and Coventry City follow in the Premier League before RB Leipzig visit United.
Though Pochettino inherits a Manchester United team low on confidence and in a difficult position, the condensed league table means just one victory would potentially propel the Red Devils into mid-table, and consecutive victories may lift United into the top half.
United have courted Pochettino extensively in the past, and the hope will be that he can build something special as he did at Tottenham, even if things may initially get worse before they get better.
