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Man Utd fans turn on owners as Pochettino closes in and Carrick waits

Pochettino is reportedly on his way to Old Trafford, but Avram Glazer's sign-off angered Man Utd fans. The Isak penalty ruling and Zubimendi also got supporters talking.

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Man Utd news: Manchester United crest beside the tunnel at Old Trafford
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Man Utd fans spent Wednesday watching Mauricio Pochettino move closer to Old Trafford while Michael Carrick was still taking training.

That strange gap left many supporters angry. So did a report that co-chairman Avram Glazer had signed off the deal. Away from Manchester, a VAR ruling and a defiant Martin Zubimendi also got fans talking. Here is how supporters reacted, from our Premier League coverage and the response on social media.

Pochettino deal reported as done

The day began with a scoop. At 08:15, David Ornstein of The Athletic posted on X that United were “finalising deal to appoint Mauricio Pochettino if ultimate decision made to replace Michael Carrick”. The post had more than 80,000 likes when we checked.

Sky Sports News soon reported that United were close to a deal, and AFP later quoted Sky as saying a “verbal agreement in principle” had been reached. Pochettino has a $10m (£7.5m) release clause in his United States contract.

The Guardian said United had a framework agreement with him, while Jason Wilcox and Omar Berrada were meeting Sir Jim Ratcliffe in Monaco. Our Pochettino deal report has the full background.

Then, at 17:21, the Manchester Evening News’ Samuel Luckhurst posted the line that set fans off. “Pochettino to #mufc done now,” he wrote. “Avram Glazer signed off the deal as he’s co-chairman.” It had more than 7,000 likes within hours.

Later in the evening, Ornstein reported that United had made formal contact with US Soccer to trigger the clause. United have not confirmed an appointment.

Why the Glazer sign-off angered Man Utd fans

For many supporters, the name behind the deal mattered as much as the manager. The Glazers are deeply unpopular, as our story on Avram Glazer’s commercial comments showed last week.

@Medleycrys summed up the mood: “So now it’s Avram Glazer that’s signing off a coach deal and not Wilcox, Berrada and Jim??” They added: “This club is in big shambles.”

@olajide56 asked: “Glazers making decisions now?? I thought INEOS makes sporting/football decisions at the club!!” Under Luckhurst’s post, @dchins1080p wrote: “The disrespect this ownership has shown to Carrick a club legend is disgusting.”

The anger had been building all day. Teddy Sheringham called Glazer’s claim that United do not need to win to make money “disgusting”. TEAMtalk shared the story on X, and our Teddy Sheringham story has his full comments.

‘Thank you, Carrick’

Carrick arrived at Carrington early, the Manchester Evening News reported, and Fabrizio Romano confirmed on X that he was leading training “same as yesterday”. By the afternoon, United Report had passed on a claim from the Daily Mail’s Nathan Salt and Chris Wheeler that sources close to the dressing room felt Carrick had been “hung out to dry”.

On talkSPORT, reporter Alex Crook was blunt. “The lack of respect they’re showing to Carrick is absolutely terrible!” he said, in a clip shared on X.

Fans soon began to say goodbye. “yep thats it. thank you Carrick for everything,” posted @3illij4. @SunnyWizTaylor1 blamed the squad: “The owners have let him down yes but I feel like the current squad let him down the most.”

Others saw a pattern. “Thank you Carrick. Welcome Pochettino,” wrote @Iadeeljafri. “Next year we will be thanking Poch and welcoming someone new.” @okikiola0529 dug up some history: in 2013-14, Pochettino’s Southampton faced a United side with Carrick in midfield.

Doubts over Pochettino

Not every supporter is excited about the new man. @CurlingFreeKick asked: “Pochettino can’t handle egos, so how can he handle club like Manchester United.”

@CFC_Mikeeeee predicted trouble: “The reason Pochettino will fail at Manchester United is because he demands physicality from his players and Man Utd players are LAZY!” @kelscletus warned: “Give it time and this same fan base will turn on the manager again.”

Some fans just want him backed. @HillS7188 hoped United “get him some defenders and a striker in Jan or he’ll be sacked next summer”.

There was praise from one famous voice. Harry Kane said United would be getting “a fantastic manager” in his old Spurs boss. Our Harry Kane story has the full quotes.

What the fan channels and pundits said

The big fan channels went live early. The United Stand’s morning stream asked whether Carrick would be gone by the end of the day. Its description says the hosts discussed how badly he had been treated by the hierarchy.

Stretford Paddock went further. Their Uncensored episode argued that Wilcox and Berrada “should go too” if Carrick is sacked. That anger at the people above the manager ran through much of the fan reaction.

UnitedPeoplesTV kept it simple with a video titled “Pochettino To United, Here We Go”. Rio Ferdinand also reacted on Rio Ferdinand Presents, and the video description says he felt Carrick deserved more time.

The pundits were split. On Overlap Daily, Peter Schmeichel, Jamie Redknapp and Tim Sherwood discussed Carrick’s treatment, and the episode’s description says Schmeichel and Sherwood took contrasting views. Redknapp also called the Andrey Santos signing “a sackable offence”, as our Andrey Santos story explains.

On talkSPORT, Simon Jordan, Danny Murphy and Jim White also debated the deal. That clip had passed 200,000 views by the evening.

Isak penalty ruling reopens old wounds

Liverpool fans had their own grievance. The Premier League’s Key Match Incidents panel ruled they should have had a penalty when Jurrien Timber pulled Alexander Isak’s shirt in their 1-0 home defeat by Arsenal on 1 November.

The panel voted 4-1 that a penalty should have been given, and 3-2 that VAR should have stepped in. Our Isak penalty story has the details, and the match centre has the stats.

BBC Sport’s Dale Johnson broke the ruling on X, and his post passed 1,500 likes.

Under it, fans did not hold back. @Redsmail replied: “I don’t know anyone who thinks holding a shirt shouldn’t be a foul every time.” @LeifRuneEide1 added that almost everyone who has played football would “think this is a 100 % penalty”.

Some saw it differently. @FIFABrit argued: “A 3-2 vote is not clear nor obvious.” Our Liverpool vs Arsenal player ratings show how tight the game was.

Arsenal fans cheer Zubimendi

Arsenal fans had a better day. Martin Zubimendi denied he is close to joining Atletico Madrid, and Romano shared his Marca interview: “Staying at Arsenal until June? I think so. I am happy there.”

@4w_real loved it: “No drama. No transfer circus.” Others were less sure. “‘Until June? I think so’ is doing a lot of heavy lifting in that sentence,” joked @NesterMB. Our Zubimendi story has his full comments.

Jeremie Aliadiere also urged Viktor Gyokeres to stay and fight for his place. Our Gyokeres story explains why.

Elsewhere in the Premier League

Aston Villa fans got good news. Romano reported that Ian Maatsen has signed a new deal until June 2032, ending United’s hopes, as our Ian Maatsen contract story explains.

Chelsea’s Malo Gusto is open to a January exit, according to BBC Sport. Our Malo Gusto story has the details. Tottenham’s Pedro Porro called Barcelona’s interest “flattering” but said he is happy, as our Pedro Porro story reports.

Bournemouth fans are celebrating too. Eli Junior Kroupi has earned a first France call-up from Zinedine Zidane, as our Kroupi story explains. Our transfers hub will track every January rumour.

What happens next

talkSPORT reported on Wednesday evening that Carrick is likely to be told on Thursday. That would end one of the strangest weeks at Old Trafford in years. Our report on Man Utd’s 3-2 win over Roma shows how quickly the mood has turned since that comeback.

Whoever is in charge faces Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday 22 November, with a 4.30pm kick-off live on Sky Sports. Find every game on our Premier League fixtures page.

Is Pochettino the right man, or did Carrick deserve better? Follow all the latest on our Premier League hub.

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