Manchester United ‘should run a mile’ from Mauricio Pochettino after Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League humiliation, according to Paul Merson.

Pochettino could only watch on in horror as his PSG side surrendered a two-goal aggregate lead to lose to Real Madrid in midweek as their dreams of winning Europe’s top prize became dust.

The Argentine is among the frontrunners to become United’s next permanent manager in the summer with his tenure at PSG almost certainly coming to a close.

But Merson believes Pochettino would be the wrong appointment as United desperately try and bridge the growing gap between themselves and rivals Manchester City and Liverpool.

United were thrashed 4-1 by City last weekend and lost 5-0 at home to Liverpool earlier in the campaign.

He wrote in his Daily Star column: ‘Manchester United should be running a mile from Mauricio Pochettino after his Champions League fiasco with Paris Saint-Germain.

‘United were cringeworthy in the Manchester derby. Embarrassing. Not one United player gets in the City team. Not one single player. And that’s extraordinary.

‘It was like watching an FA Cup tie between a Premier League side and a non-league team.

‘But if you were a United fan watching PSG collapse against Real Madrid you’d be even more worried.

‘Everyone knows United love Pochettino but I’m not sure he’s right for them at all.’

Merson added: ‘I don’t think they should be going for Pochettino at all. That should be the end of that.

‘He didn’t win a trophy at Tottenham. Didn’t win the league in his first season at PSG, where that is basically a given. And now this.’

Merson concluded by saying ‘the last person they need in charge of that [the rebuild] right now is Mauricio Pochettino.’

The former Southampton and Tottenham boss is, nonetheless, believed to be the players’ choice to take over at Old Trafford when interim boss Ralf Rangnick moves aside at the end of the season.

The Ajax manager Erik ten Hag is another strong contender for the role.

It remains to be seen whether United’s new manger will lead the team in the Champions League next season with a top four finish far from guaranteed.

They sit fifth in the Premier League table, one point behind Arsenal but having played three matches more, ahead of Saturday’s home match with Tottenham.

United play Atletico Madrid in the second leg of their last-16 Champions League tie on Tuesday.