Mauricio Pochettino is set to take charge at Manchester United on 18 November, and those who know him best say the Argentine will bring a no-nonsense approach, an obsession with fitness, and a demand for total commitment. Toby Alderweireld, who played under Pochettino at Tottenham for four years, shared his insights on what the United squad can expect.
A strict regime
Alderweireld describes Pochettino as approachable but unwavering in his demands. "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," Alderweireld said. "You need to think about team, team, team. If you're thinking about yourself, you're gone."
The defender explained that Pochettino understands players have personal lives, but the team always comes first. "He'll say 'look, I understand and you can talk to me about it but the team is number one' - that's the way it is and if you're not following it, he'll put you on the sideline."
Fitness first
One of Pochettino's most notable traits is his emphasis on physical conditioning. Alderweireld recalled the grueling pre-seasons under the Argentine. "First of all he made us very fit. Pre-season was brutal," he said. "The way he wants to play - on the front foot, putting people under pressure, a high line, very dynamic play - you need to run. You need to be capable of running and be capable of high intensity runs - the basic is to be fit."
This focus on fitness could be crucial for United, who have been criticized this season for their lack of running and intensity. They rank in the bottom five in the league for distance covered and high-intensity runs. Pochettino's demanding training sessions are designed to address exactly that.
A control freak in a positive way
Alderweireld described Pochettino as a "control freak" in a positive sense. "He knows everything. If he's not there, he's looking at video and data. He knows everything about the players on and off the pitch - the players will be watched," he said. "He is, in a positive way, a control freak because he says your body is your weapon and it needs to be ready to perform."
This attention to detail extends to creating a team-first mentality. "He will create an environment like 'it's us against the world' - we are getting fit, we are together as a team. It doesn't matter what people say, let's work together and get results together," Alderweireld added.
Inspirational moments
Pochettino's motivational skills were on full display during Tottenham's miraculous comeback against Ajax in the 2019 Champions League semi-final. Trailing 3-0 on aggregate at half-time, Pochettino did not focus on tactics. "He just said 'you're going to be physical, you're going to fight, you only need one goal to be back in the game, believe that everything is possible'," Alderweireld recalled. "That was a big moment because we were nowhere near Ajax at that time, especially in that game. But we changed everything by intensity, by duels." Spurs went on to win on away goals and reach the final.
United fans will hope Pochettino can inspire similar feats at Old Trafford. With his contract running until June 2029, the Argentine has the time to implement his philosophy. But as Alderweireld's insights show, success will require buy-in from every player. Those who don't follow the plan will find themselves on the sidelines.
