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Fitness obsessed & 'control freak' - what can Man Utd expect from Pochettino?

Fitness obsessed & 'control freak' - what can Man Utd expect from Pochettino?

What can Manchester United fans expect from their new manager Mauricio Pochettino? BBC Sport gets an insight from Toby Alderweireld, who played under him at Spurs.

Mauricio Pochettino heads to Old Trafford with a reputation for "brutal" pre-seasons, an obsession with fitness and a no-nonsense approach.

Manchester United confirmed on Friday that Pochettino will become their manager on 18 November - replacing Michael Carrick - and has signed a contract until June 2029.

So what should the players and staff expect when the Argentine takes control at the end of next week?

BBC Sport spoke to Toby Alderweireld, who spent four years playing for Pochettino at Tottenham during a successful period where they reached the Champions League final and finished second in the Premier League.

How Ferguson-inspired Pochettino can succeed where Carrick failed at Man Utd

Pochettino a decade in Man Utd's making - but Carrick deserves better

Alderweireld, 37, says Pochettino has a no-nonsense approach to management and that he can get the best out of a squad, as long as you do it his way.

"He is very approachable but you need to follow his plan. If you don't follow his plan, you go on the side and you're not coming back any more.

"You need to think about team, team, team. If you're thinking about yourself, you're gone.

"As a player you have your own life, your own situation but he says 'look, I understand and you can talk to me about it…

In brief

Mauricio Pochettino heads to Old Trafford with a reputation for "brutal" pre-seasons, an obsession with fitness and a no-nonsense approach. Manchester United confirmed on Friday that Pochettino will become their manager on 18 November - replacing Michael Carrick - and has signed a contract until June 2029. "You need to think about team, team, team.

This is the opening of the story, shared with credit to BBC News — Top Stories. The rest of the report — with every detail — continues on the publisher’s website.

Continue reading at BBC News — Top Stories ↗

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