Mauricio Pochettino was one of three potential candidates to replace Louis van Gaal at Manchester United prior to Jose Mourinho's appointment last May, sources have told ESPN FC.
The Tottenham Hotspur manager goes up against Mourinho and United at Old Trafford on Sunday, having committed his future to the White Hart Lane club by signing a five-year contract at the end of last season.
But while senior figures at United remain confident in Mourinho's ability to transform the team's fortunes and restore the club to the position of dominance it enjoyed under Sir Alex Ferguson, sources involved with the recruitment process towards the end of last season, when it became clear that Van Gaal would not be backed to see out the final year of his three-year contract, have confirmed that Mourinho, Ryan Giggs and Pochettino were all discussed by the Old Trafford hierarchy.