Paul Scholes: 'Mauricio Pochettino will need to win trophies at Old Trafford'

By Daniel Lewis, Senior Reporter | 02 February 2019

Scholes: 'Poch expected to win trophies at United'

Paul Scholes says that Mauricio Pochettino has to challenge for all four trophies next season if he takes over as Manchester United manager.

Manchester United legend Paul Scholes has warned Mauricio Pochettino that he will not get away with settling for a top-four finish if he takes over as manager at Old Trafford.

The Tottenham Hotspur boss remains the bookies' favourite to succeed Jose Mourinho as United's next permanent manager, despite Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's impressive caretaker stint.

Pochettino has earned widespread praise for finishing no lower than third with Spurs across the last three seasons, though he has yet to win any major honours during his managerial career.

Speaking after his side's exits from the EFL Cup and FA Cup in the space of a few days last week, the Argentine claimed that lifting trophies is not the be-all and end-all.

Scholes argues that, while a top-four finish taking priority may make sense for Tottenham, that will not be the case at United should Pochettino be appointed.

"It's a really difficult one," he told BBC Sport. "As a player you want medals, you want trophies, you want to be winning stuff. I think as a club, and financially, Champions League is a little bit bigger I suppose.

"It would be a disaster if clubs like United didn't get into Champions League next season - I think they will do the way they're going - but for Tottenham it's massive as well. I think Tottenham are at a point now where winning the FA Cup or the League Cup is much more important than being in the Champions League the year after.

"He couldn't say that [at United]. If he's at United he's got to go for everything. Being in the Champions League, in the top four places, isn't good enough. The only reason it would be good enough this season is because of the way the team have performed over the first half of the year.

"Winning the FA cup will be good for United, it be a great achievement for Ole if he can do it, but if Pochettino comes in next season he has to try and win everything. OK the League Cup may be on the back burner, but he has to try and win trophies for Man Utd. That's what the fans expected and the club expects."

Tottenham are up to second in the Premier League following their late 1-0 win over Newcastle United on Saturday afternoon.