EPL: Mauricio Pochettino linked with Aston Villa job

Posted on October 18, 2022

PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN SACK MAURICIO POCHETTINO

Darren Bent thinks that Mauricio Pochettino’s return to management at Aston Villa would be “the perfect job.”

On Monday, reports surfaced claiming that the Argentine manager was being considered as Steven Gerrard’s possible replacement at Villa Park.

With Villa in 16th place in the standings and a 2-0 loss to Chelsea, the Liverpool legend is facing criticism.

According to The Telegraph, the club’s top priority is Pochettino, and Gerrard could be fired if his team loses to Brentford at home this weekend.

After leaving Paris Saint-Germain in July of this year, the former Tottenham manager is currently without a club. While some have speculated that Pochettino will be holding out for a position at one of Europe’s biggest clubs, ex-Villa striker Bent thinks a return to his old team would be ideal for a manager who may not get what he’s looking for.

Speaking on talkSPORT Drive, Bent said: “Aston Villa are a big club. The Manchester United job was there, the Chelsea job was there and neither of those two clubs opted to go for Pochettino.

“He’s not going to get Liverpool any time soon, he’s not going to get Man City any time soon.

“The longer that he’s out of work, his stock will drop. He can only hang onto that Champions League final at Spurs for so long.

“I think that he did a really good job there and went to PSG which was supposed to be the big job that he wanted, but it probably didn’t go to plan.

“I know he won the league, everyone wins the league, but he managed to lose it in his first year.

“It’s all well and good waiting for a top, top job because you think that’s the level that you’re at, but if these jobs don’t come available or they don’t hire you, Villa would be a perfect job.

“I don’t think that he’s one of the top, top managers in this country.

“Villa have got ambitious owners, they do spend money, the fanbase at Aston Villa is massive and they’ve got good players there who are just underperforming. Maybe a fresh voice in the dressing room would help.”