Mauricio Pochettino looked destined for the Man United job after a ‘dream’ lunch with Sir Alex Ferguson in 2016… overlooked more than once, now the Chelsea boss is looking to pile the misery on Erik ten Hag’s strugglers

Traditionally, the clash between Manchester United and Chelsea is one of the most highly anticipated matches of the entire Premier League season.

However, in 2023, the meeting between the two top giants offers little more than an analysis of two sides struggling to regain their former glory.

Interestingly, things could have been very different for both United and Chelsea, with the Red Devils previously closely linked to Blues boss Mauricio Pochettino.

Instead, United opted for Erik ten Hag to lead them into a new era, which has struggled to get going under the Dutchman's leadership.

So here, Mailsport looks at Pochettino's previous links with United and whether it was wrong for the Red Devils to pass him by.

Mauricio Pochettino (L) and Erik ten Hag (R) will face off on Wednesday evening when Manchester United host Chelsea

Pochettino has been closely linked with Manchester United in the past before taking up his role at Chelsea this summer

The Red Devils' recent problems have raised questions about whether they should have come in for the Argentine manager

To understand Pochettino's (somewhat tenuous) relationship with the Red Devils, you have to go back to the Argentine's time at Tottenham Hotspur.

Pochettino was two years into his eventual five-year spell in north London when he was spotted having lunch with United legend Sir Alex Ferguson.

The Red Devils were coached by Louis van Gaal at the time, but there were growing concerns over his suitability at Old Trafford after a string of poor results.

Pochettino quickly became one of the favorites to succeed the Dutchman after impressing the nation with his work at Spurs in just two years.

Much to the dismay of fans in North London, the Argentine was spotted with Ferguson amid rumors at Scott's restaurant in Mayfair before returning to Spurs in the afternoon, according to Air sports.

While some Spurs fans tried to turn a blind eye to the meeting, Pochettino inevitably described the lunch as a 'dream'.

According to The mirror, he said: 'It was fantastic. It was a dream come true because when I was younger and at the beginning of my career, he was my inspiration, my reference.

“And if you can share two hours with the person who is one of the greatest managers in the world of all time, you have to enjoy it.

'I wanted time to stand still, but of course that's not possible. It was fantastic.'

Pochettino was first mentioned as a potential United boss during his Spurs days

Pochettino once described a lunch meeting with Sir Alex Ferguson (left) as a 'dream'

However, Pochettino did his best to appease Spurs fans as he insisted Ferguson was not trying to persuade him to move to Old Trafford.

'Did he say 'Come to Manchester?' No, he didn't,” Pochettino confirmed.

“If you know Sir Alex Ferguson, he is a person we can all learn from because he has a fantastic history of football and of life.”

A week after the meeting between Ferguson and Pochettino, United parted ways with Van Gaal, but chose not to approach the Argentine. Instead they hired Jose Mourinho.

Pochettino ended up staying in North London for another three years, during which time he was once again linked with the Old Trafford gig.

After Mourinho's dismissal in December 2018, Pochettino's name resurfaced in the list of possible managers to take charge of United.

Still at Spurs, it would have taken some major negotiations (which are far from easy with Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy) to pry Pochettino from north London.

And the Argentinian made that position clear when he was questioned about a possible move north in 2018.

In 2018, Pochettino was linked again with United while managing Spurs in 2018

However, United opted to appoint Jose Mourinho instead of moving for the Argentine

According to The guardPochettino said: 'In football no one can guarantee that you will be here tomorrow.

'In football I say today is white and tomorrow is black, you know? What will happen in the summer? Or tomorrow? Nobody knows.

“What will happen is not in our hands; We don't know the decision at another club. That is none of my business and I will not waste time or energy as my focus and energy is with Tottenham.”

United clearly took the hint and quickly looked elsewhere before interim boss Ole Gunnar finally offered Solskjaer the full-time gig.

However, the Norwegian's time in charge was far from ideal and within three years United were looking for a new first-team coach.

And it will come as no surprise which Argentinian name appeared on United's shortlist.

This time Pochettino was no longer on Spurs' books was dismissed from his position in November 2019.

He was out of management for just over a year before returning to the dugout to take charge of French giants Paris Saint-Germain.

And while his spell at the Parc des Princes wasn't anything to write home about, it didn't stop the ex-Spurs boss from being linked with United again.

Pochettino was linked with the United job again during his tenure at PSG

United legend Gary Neville urged the club to hire the former Southampton and Spurs boss

Reports from Air sportssuggested at the time that Pochettino was 'interested' in taking the Old Trafford job following Solskjaer's dismissal in November 2021.

The Argentine had only been in Paris for 10 months before it was claimed he was interested in the United job, as club legends quickly urged him to make the move.

Former defender Gary Neville told the story Air sports: “I think Mauricio Pochettino – even though he would never say it – would leave tomorrow to join Man Utd on a five-year deal,” Neville told Sky Sports.

'He would look at that group of players, he would look at the club and he would realize that he could probably achieve more than he wants at Manchester United in terms of a project.

'At PSG season after season you are busy with the type of 'You have to win the Champions League, otherwise you are out'.

'I don't think that suits Pochettino. I think he would definitely come to Manchester United for five years with support behind him.”

Despite Neville's insistence, Pochettino was not offered the United job and instead the Red Devils welcomed current manager Erik ten Hag to the club in May 2022.

Pochettino, meanwhile, remained at PSG until the end of the 2021/22 season before leaving the club and being snapped up by United's league rivals Chelsea.

The Blues have had a shaky start under the Argentine's leadership, but it's fair to say Pochettino has managed to steady the ship after failed tenures from Graham Potter and Frank Lampard last season.

Looking at Pochettino's first fourteen games at Chelsea and comparing them to Ten Hag's start at United might suggest the Red Devils have missed a beat.

Instead of Pochettino, United opted to appoint current manager Erik ten Hag

Pochettino's stats at Chelsea will encourage fans in West London about the side's potential

Although the Dutchman has recorded more wins (eight) from his first fourteen games than Pochettino (five), the Blues boss leads his team in a number of statistics.

According to Opta, their expected goals are much better than United's in Ten Hag's first fourteen games. Chelsea now has an xG of 28.25, while United's was 19.25.

With a similar expected goals conceded rate, the Blues boast an expected goals differential of 9.62, while United's was just 1.76.

Furthermore, Pochettino's side also boast higher passing accuracy and average ball possession as they continue to find their feet under the former Spurs boss.