Alderweireld says Pochettino will demand fitness and discipline at Man Utd

Former Tottenham defender Toby Alderweireld says Manchester United players can expect Mauricio Pochettino to demand intense running, strict commitment to team priorities and close attention to their fitness when he takes charge on 18 November.

Alderweireld, who spent four years under Pochettino at Spurs, described the Argentine as approachable but firm. Players who do not follow his plan risk being left out, he said, adding that “the team is number one”.

He also called Pochettino a “positive” control freak who believes a player’s body is “your weapon” and must be ready to perform. At Tottenham, Alderweireld said, Pochettino closely monitored players on and off the pitch, using video and data when he was not at training.

Fitness is central to the manager’s preferred style, Alderweireld said: pressing high, defending with a high line and playing dynamically all require players to run and sustain high-intensity efforts. He recalled Pochettino’s pre-season training as “brutal” and said players would notice the difference in the demands at the training ground.

Manchester United have been criticised for their running levels this season. The BBC report says they rank among the league’s bottom five for distance covered and high-intensity runs. Alderweireld’s account offers one picture of what the incoming manager may demand, but does not establish how Pochettino’s methods will translate to United’s current squad.

Alderweireld also recalled Tottenham’s 2019 Champions League semi-final comeback against Ajax, saying Pochettino focused at half-time on physicality, fighting and belief rather than a tactical talk. Spurs went on to reach the final under him.

United have confirmed that Pochettino will replace Michael Carrick on 18 November and has signed a contract until June 2029. Earlier coverage set out the timing of his arrival.