MAURICIO POCHETTINO could be parachuted in to save Real Madrid’s season if Zinedine Zidane gets the sack.
The French coach is on the brink after another tough night in the Champions League.
Shakhtar Donetsk beat Madrid 2-0 in Ukraine and Los Blancos must avoid defeat at home to Borussia Monchengladbach next week to reach the last-16.
Having been knocked out early last season, Zidane may not survive another disappointment in a competition that Real hold dear to their hearts.
And, with upcoming games against Sevilla and Atletico Madrid in LaLiga, the coach has reportedly been given just four games to save his job.
Pochettino is named by Marca as the man Madrid want to replace Zidane, should he go.
Castilla boss and former strike hero Raul is another on the shortlist, with bookies tipping Massimiliano Allegri to be a contender.
Should ex-Spurs boss Poch be handed the reins, he may try and make a definitive mark on the Madrid side.
Mauricio Pochettino is reportedly the man being eyed to become the next Real Madrid coach[/caption]
Zinedine Zidane faces a fight to save his job[/caption]
A variety of aging stars such as Toni Kroos and Marcelo are being ushered out and the Argentine could rely on old favourites to replace them.
Dele Alli experienced his best form under the coach and remains a bit-part player under Jose Mourinho in North London.
Having almost left for Paris Saint-Germain in the summer, Alli may be available again when the window reopens next year.
Adding fresh attacking impetus may also be high up on Pochettino’s list and Paulo Dybala is another top talent going to waste.
Andrea Pirlo has been unable to get the best out of the Argentine at Juventus and PSG are also said to be monitoring his situation.
The versatile attacker could form a deadly frontline with the likes of Eden Hazard and Karim Benzema.
Amid the coronavirus pandemic, Real have had to enforce squad pay cuts and made no summer signings to keep on top of their finances.
With football slowly heading back to normal next year, Madrid could try to persuade a new coach such as Pochettino to join – on the basis he can have a major Galactico signing.
Were that to be the case, he could look no further than Harry Kane with a world-record fee likely required to land the Tottenham star.
Of course, the one thing that may persuade Kane to leave is the potentially higher chances of winning a trophy elsewhere.
But with Mourinho taking Spurs to the Premier League summit, any audacious bidder may have to act fast to make their case before it is too late.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
