Manchester United’s next manager: Ralf Rangnick’s response to Mauricio Pochettino reports

Ralf Rangnick said he has “no idea” what is happening regarding the permanent Manchester United manager’s position next season, amid reports that Mauricio Pochettino is in line to take over in the summer

According to the Mirror, United are ‘growing increasingly confident’ that the former Tottenham Hotspur boss is set to be appointed at Old Trafford before the 2022/23 campaign.

Rangnick was appointed in December on an interim basis and is set to take up a consultancy role with the board next season, although the German has previously said he would be interested in becoming the club’s permanent manager, if he felt it was in everyone’s best interests.

However, speaking in Thursday’s pre-match press conference ahead of the FA Cup fourth-round meeting with Middlesbrough, Rangnick was giving little away about his position.

“I have no idea,” he said via video link. “My full focus is on developing and training the group right now.

“We have important games coming up in three different competitions so I cannot give any reasonable answer to that question. As I said, my focus is on the next couple of games, and the next couple of weeks and months, and be as successful as we can be.”

United face Chris Wilder’s men at 8pm on Friday, where a win would see them progress to the last-16 of the FA Cup.

Speaking in the press conference, Rangnick also confirmed Paul Pogba is set to return to the side for the first time since early November, while he gave an update on Jesse Lingard’s situation.