Manchester United news LIVE: Lucien Favre and Rudi Garcia interview for interim job

Manchester United won their first match of the post-Ole Gunnar Solskjaer era on Tuesday night as Cristiano Ronaldo and Jadon Sancho scored in a 2-0 victory at Villarreal.

Michael Carrick made a few tweaks to the starting line-up but saw his side frustrated for the first hour, with David de Gea making a vital save. However, the introduction of Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford from the bench sparked United into life and the victory ensured they will advance to the knockout stages.

Meanwhile, in the background, United’s manager search rumbles on. Mauricio Pochettino is reported to be at the head of that queue though, with The Independent learning that the former Tottenham and Southampton boss is keen to take over at Old Trafford - and could even do so mid-season.

If it can’t happen until summer and United follow the interim boss route until then as they announced, Ernesto Valverde is one of the leading candidates for the post with Lucien Favre and Rudi Garcia also said to be being considered.

Follow all the latest updates and reaction from El Madrigal, plus United’s search for both an interim boss and a long-term solution:

Man United news

• United win at Villarreal to book place in Champions League last 16

• Scholes: Carrick and Man United coaching staff ‘all should have gone’ with Solskjaer

• Pochettino insists he is ‘so happy’ at PSG amid Man United interest

• Jadon Sancho should be Manchester United cornerstone in new era

Next Manchester United manager: Lucien Favre and Rudi Garcia interview for interim job

14:53 , Jack Rathborn

Lucien Favre and Rudi Garcia are the latest names to be have been interviewed for the interim manager position at Manchester United.

Ernesto Valverde has spoken to the club already, while Ralf Rangnick is set to be interviewed too.

United are also focused predominantly on an interim appointment, with the Telegraph reporting that no approach has been made to PSG over Mauricio Pochettino.

This would naturally represent a long-term commitment should the Ligue 1 club be receptive to an approach, with the Argentine thought to be open to a move back to the Premier League.

Next Manchester United manager: Ralf Rangnick preferred option as interim boss

14:27 , Jack Rathborn

Manchester United have added Ralf Rangnick to the list of managers to take over at Old Trafford as interim manager.

The Manchester Evening News report that the current head of sports and development at Lokomotiv Moscow is the preferred option to see out the season if they cannot land Mauricio Pochettino mid-season.

An initial approach for the Argentinian has been rejected by PSG.

Johan Guadagno reveals departure was ‘a bit of a surprise’ for Manchester United

14:10 , Jack Rathborn

Johan Guadagno insists his Manchester United exit last summer was ‘a bit of a surprise’ for the club.

Despite two years remaining on his deal, the young goalkeeper moved on to FC Copenhagen and has told Tipsbladet his motivation to depart came from a desire to accelerate his development.

“I had two years left on my contract at Manchester United. I told my mom I did not want to be there anymore,” he said.

“I need to train with the first team for my own development. And it has been a good decision. They were not hard to negotiate with, but I felt it came as a bit of a surprise to them that I wanted to leave.

“I thought the road to the first team was a bit closed. That’s the feeling I had. It wasn’t for me, so I decided to leave. It was a dream come true and now it’s time to wake up and start working hard to become the best professional goalkeeper I can be.”

Next Manchester United manager: Zinedine Zidane holding up move for Mauricio Pochettino

13:45 , Jack Rathborn

Mauricio Pochettino’s potential move to Manchester United can only happen if PSG can secure a deal for Zinedine Zidane and AS report that initial negotiations have been cold.

While Zidane is said to be “flattered”, he believes it’s “complicated” to accept a job mid-season.

That could force United into a decision over waiting for Pochettino until next summer or moving for another target if another interim boss does not appeal.

Next Manchester United manager: Mauricio Pochettino approach rejected

13:26 , Jack Rathborn

Manchester United have been knocked back in their initial approach to Paris Saint-Germain, report the Manchester Evening News.

The Argentine is set to coach PSG against Man City tonight in the Champions League.

And the former Spurs boss is thought to be keen on a return to the Premier League.

The 49-year-old is thought to be unsettled in Paris and rather than instal an interim for the remainder of the season, United sense they can appoint a long-term coach mid-season.

Next Manchester United Manager: Luis Enrique backed by Owen Hargreaves

13:03 , Jack Rathborn

“I think [Pochettino] commands respect, I think he demands work from the players. But all these names are great names,” Hargreaves told BT Sport.

“Brendan has great experience in the league. Zidane, surely the language barrier has got to be a thing. Ten Hag has done unbelievable with Ajax, but they’re the best team in Holland – is he going to be able to dominate the ball over here in the Premier League like he does in Holland?

“I think one name that’s not on there, which I’d like to see, is Luis Enrique. If you manage a big football club like Barcelona, and you won the treble there, and then you can go and take a pretty average team to a semi-final [of Euro 2020] in Spain, I think that’s the type of guy [United need].

“And he’s only managing the national team, so I think he could come in and do the job now.

“And I think he would transform United from a good team into a great team.”

Next Manchester United Manager Odds

12:54 , Jack Rathborn

Via Betfair

Mauricio Pochettino 6/4

Ernesto Valverde 9/2

Michael Carrick 6/1

Rudi Garcia 10/1

Brendan Rodgers 12/1

Erik ten Hag 14/1

Ralf Rangnick 14/1

Diego Simeone 17/1

Luis Enrique 33/1

Zinedine Zidane 33/1

Laurent Blanc 40/1

Donny van de Beek among Manchester United players set to reconsider desire to leave

12:44 , Jack Rathborn

Donny van de Beek, Dean Henderson, Anthony Martial, Eric Bailly, Alex Telles and Diogo Dalot are all willing to reconsider their desire to leave Manchester United.

Mail Sport believe that group will hang around at Old Trafford if a permanent manager is hired.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s departure has not changed Jesse Lingard’s mind though, with the England international keen for a fresh start.

Bruno Fernandes tops Champions League assists

12:33 , Jack Rathborn

6 - Bruno Fernandes, Manchester United

5 - Antony Matheus dos Santos, Ajax

4 - Leroy Sane, Bayern Munich

3 - Vinicius Jr, Real Madrid

3 - Cristiano da Silva Leite, Sheriff

3 - Kylian Mbappe, PSG

Michael Carrick: Jadon Sancho goal shows Manchester United DNA

12:21 , Jack Rathborn

“The intercepting for the second goal is what we’ve got in the team,” Carrick said on Jadon Sancho’s goal. “To be able to hit teams on the break and to have those little moments has always been in the DNA of this club and that’s still within the players we have got.

“I’m delighted with both goals, I’m not going to take any credit for that, it’s not about my ideas that one, it’s about the lads working hard together and pulling it off. The efforts, endeavours and application tonight, when they put that together, we’re a good team.”

Michael Carrick impressed with Manchester United’s press

12:10 , Jack Rathborn

“Yeah of course it did impress me, the pressing one,” Michael Carrick said of the Cristiano Ronaldo goal. “If you look back over time, we have pressed as a team, especially on goal kicks and when the goalkeeper got the ball, we do try to press.

“Sometimes, it hasn’t worked and we haven’t been good enough to do it, but certainly the intention is to do that. When we have changed our approach and, certainly over the last few years, we have tried to implement that the best we can.

“Fred is one of the best around at doing it and I thought he played a massive part in the first goal. Cristiano finishes it off but Fred has done terrific.”

Villarreal vs Manchester United: Bruno Fernandes enhances European numbers

12:02 , Jack Rathborn

Bruno Fernandes was dropped at Villarreal, but the Portuguese made an impact off the bench, assisting Jadon Sancho for the second goal in the 2-0 win.

It is now 25 appearances in Europe in a Manchester United shirt with 12 assists and 12 goals.

Next Manchester United manager: Steve Bruce backed by Peter Schmeichel

11:52 , Jack Rathborn

“You have to take small steps, you can’t just jump straight in and say we are going to play a pressing game,” Peter Schmeichel said.

“You can’t do that, the first thing you have to do is give confidence to everybody in the team.

“I just like the idea, if it is an interim, get somebody who knows the club.

“Get somebody who is known by the club as well.

“Get somebody like Steve Bruce, that would be fantastic.”

Jadon Sancho praised by Owen Hargreaves after debut Manchester United goal

11:44 , Jack Rathborn

"The thing I like about this is Jadon's [Sancho] effort to get up and join. Bruno [Fernandes] come on and had a big impact on the game, his quality in these areas,” Owen Hargreaves

"But I love the fact, Jadon's getting into an area. That was the Jadon Sancho we saw at Borussia Dortmund, that's why they paid that money to make the difference and it was great to see Jadon play in that position, get a bit of confidence to go into the game against Chelsea at the weekend."

Jamie Carragher jokes that Michael Carrick deserves Manchester United contract

11:36 , Jack Rathborn

Jamie Carragher has mocked Manchester United by insisting Michael Carrick should be handed a contract.

Carrick guided the Red Devils to a 2-0 win over Villarreal, securing a last 16 place in the Champions League.

Harry Redknapp claims ‘you can’t turn Manchester United down’

11:28 , Jack Rathborn

“Pochettino I’m sure would love the job,” Harry Redknapp told Sky Sports.

“But you know, Poch had five good years at Tottenham and he didn’t win a trophy either as good as he was.

“But I’m sure it’s like every one, I’m sure that it would be a job that anybody would jump at, to manage Man United, one of, the biggest clubs in the world and there’ll be plenty of people who love that job for sure.”

Next Manchester United manager: Luke Shaw opens up on Mauricio Pochettino experience

11:21 , Jack Rathborn

“He used to call me his son,” Shaw said in Guillem Ballugue’s book Brave New World: Inside Pochettino’s Spurs.

“That’s how good our relationship was. I’ve had lots of ups and downs, but when I was with Pochettino it was only ever up, up, up.

“He made me feel that I was the best. He’d show me clips of my games and say, ‘You could do this better’. Not in a horrible way. Not I could have done better, but I should have done better, because he knows I can be better.

“I think with Southampton he achieved the impossible. We were one of the best footballing teams in the league... I do hope that I can play for him again one day. And I think he really wants me to play under him again.”

Rudi Garcia emerges as interim Manchester United manager option

11:14 , Jack Rathborn

Rudi Garcia is reportedly an option to become the Manchester United interim manager, report The National.

The 57-year-old is said to have already interviewed for the role before the 2-0 Champions League win over Villarreal.

The reort claims that Garcia spoke to United’s football director John Murtough and technical director Darren Fletcher.

Garcia most recently guided Lyon to the Champions League semi-finals in 2020, including a memorable quarter-final win over Manchester City, only to fall short to Bayern Munich in the semi-finals.

Michael Carrick: 'Manchester United win is for Ole’

09:18 , Jack Rathborn

“It’s not been an easy couple of days for anyone at the club and that result almost feels like it’s for Ole,” Carrick said after 2-0 win.

“We had a job to do and things needed to be taken care of. I was happy to do it and thankfully it all went to plan.

“When you’ve suffered results-wise and aren’t in good form, individually and as a team, it’s not easy to come out and let everything click. We had to show some character and fight.”

Sir Alex Ferguson not involved in search for new manager

09:10 , Jack Rathborn

Sir Alex Ferguson will not be involved in Manchester United’s pursuit of a successor to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, according to ESPN.

That responsibility will lie with football director John Murtough and technical director Darren Fletcher.

That is despite Sir Alex, 79, still acting as a director on United’s football board.

Jadon Sancho should be Manchester United cornerstone in new era

09:01 , Jack Rathborn

Even before his first goal for his new club finally arrived in the last of the 90 minutes which made up his 15th appearance, he had already put in the most eye-catching performance of any player on the pitch.

This was not only a fresh start for Manchester United on a collective level under the guidance of caretaker manager Michael Carrick but it was also a new beginning for Jadon Sancho on an individual level too.

The goal in question, similarly, was not only a well-constructed counter attack by a collective but finished brilliantly by the individual on the end of it. Like with Cristiano Ronaldo’s crucial breakthrough shortly before, it came from Fred winning the ball, only this time he was inside his own half rather than deep in Villarreal territory and there was plenty of ground still to cover.

Jadon Sancho shows why he should be cornerstone of Man United’s post-Solskjaer era

Next Manchester United manager: Pochettino insists he is ‘so happy’ at PSG

09:00 , Jack Rathborn

Mauricio Pochettino insisted he was “happy” at Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday amid reports that he is Manchester United’s first choice to succeed Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Pochettino, whose PSG squad face Manchester City on Wednesday, is understood to be interested in joining United, possibly even before the summer, but said the speculation was part of football and that he remains happy in Paris.

Reports on Tuesday linked former Barcelona manager Ernesto Valverde with the interim role at United, while caretaker Michael Carrick prepared for his first game in charge against Villarreal.

Mauricio Pochettino insists he’s ‘happy’ at PSG amid Manchester United interest