Unai Emery urges Mauricio Pochettino to reject Manchester United following Jose Mourinho departure

The Tottenham manager was heavily linked with the Manchester United job even before Mourinho's dismissal

Unai Emery believes Mauricio Pochettino could be better off staying put at Tottenham Hotspur and believes the Argentine should think very carefully if Manchester United offer him their manager’s job.

Pochettino has been heavily linked with a summer switch to Old Trafford even before Jose Mourinho was sacked by United.

Emery knows him well as they were good friends when the pair were managers in Spain and now the Spaniard has suggested that Tottenham may be able to offer him better chance of success.

"I think he's very happy at Tottenham,” said the Arsenal manager on the eve of the League Cup North London derby when asked if Pochettino would make a good United boss. “I think he's coaching a very big team with very big players and now they are in the Champions League they are also in a better position in the Premier League than Manchester United.

“I think his performance at Tottenham is very big. I don't know if he's thinking to change for another club, but I am looking at him with a very big commitment to Tottenham and he's creating a good performance a good idea at Tottenham. Tottenham improved a lot with him.”

This is the second meeting between the two sides this month after Arsenal beat Spurs 4-2 at home in the league but Emery knows just how difficult this match will be especially as their rivals have revenge in mind.

“Their level now is very big,” he said. “They have very good players, the coach is working very well, they are winning a lot of matches.

“When they are on the ball they are a very organised team, movement, they like a lot to be in possession, progress with the passes, with quality, are physically very hard and have attacking players with very big performances now.

Unai Emery has urged Mauricio Pochettino to reject Manchester United (Getty)

“We need to do a big match and I think it will more difficult than the first.

“It's a very big test and also they are coming tomorrow with a very big ambition against us because after the first derby they need to show us and their supporters a big performance.

“I think is a very good match for the supporters, very big match for the players and a very big match for us, the coaches, also.”

Unai Emery will field a strong team against Tottenham (Getty)

Sides often field weakened sides for League Cup matches but given the importance of this match locally, Emery has confirmed his eleven will be a strong one.

“I prepare for the next match with the best players who can start the first eleven or be on the bench for the solution,” he said. “This game is the same. First we need to think to win is very important for us as it is one title, the Carabao Cup.

“We have the possibility to go to the semi-final and it is a very big moment for us. We will play with players who are in the best moment, physically well to start the first eleven and that's the priority.

"I played a lot of derbies in France and Spain. A big derby in Spain is Sevilla v Betis for the emotion. When you are very close to the line you can't break this emotion when we are speaking about this derby. Tomorrow is the same.

“The stadium will be full with supporters and more supporters from them as in the cup they half the possibility to have more supporters. I think we are going to leave one exciting moment for this match in 90 minutes.”

Sokratis is set to play but Sead Kolasinac is not quite ready while Hector Bellerin will not be risked.