A History of Broken Relationships: Is Thomas Tuchel the Right Man for Manchester United?

Manchester United have reportedly held talks with Thomas Tuchel to discuss the possibility of replacing Erik ten Hag. However, it is unsure if he is interested in the job.

Will Tuchel Arrive at Old Trafford?

United have been undertaking a meticulous search for their next manager as they don't want to mess it up. Ever since legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson called it a day Old Trafford has seen every managerial appointment fail to meet expectations. So they are determined to get it right this time and have now approached former Bayern Munich boss Thomas Tuchel.

As reported in The Times, United's head of sporting operations Sir Jim Ratcliffe held talks with Tuchel in Monaco last Tuesday. The pair are said to have discussed the state of affairs at the club. During the discussion with Ratcliffe, Tuchel had reportedly emphasized how he could revive the United career of Mason Mount and Jadon Sancho.

Commenting on the possibility of Tuchel taking over transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has stated that the German is not eager to replace ten Hag as he looks to take a break from coaching. A clear picture of the situation might emerge in the next few days. If Tuchel rejects the Red Devils they might turn their attention towards the former Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi.

Fallout With Players and Owners

It is to be noted that Tuchel didn't enjoy the strongest of relationships with the players in his previous clubs. A notable example is his clash with Joshua Kimmich, the Bayern midfielder. Both were not on the same page regarding Kimmich's role in the team. It was a similar story at Paris Saint-Germain as he endured strained relationships with Kylian Mbappe, Neymar, and Edinson Cavani.

Tuchel also had a history of falling out with the club hierarchy during his past spells as a manager. This was the major reason for his sacking at Dortmund, PSG, and Chelsea. At Dortmund, the club CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke had described him as a "difficult person".

He had a two-year stint with Chelsea where he remarkably strengthened the Blues' defence and took them to Champions League glory in Porto in 2021. However, disagreements with club owner Todd Boehly over the transfer strategy led to his dismissal in September 2022.

Previously at PSG, he had a public spat with the club after questioning their transfer policy. This led to sporting director Leonardo Araújo issuing a warning to Tuchel.

"You have to respect the people above you. I didn't like his comments, the club didn't like them either"

- Leonardo Araújo

United's financial issues mean they won't be able to do a deal for every transfer target demanded by Tuchel. Moreover, the 50-year-old coach might not be given the luxury of having the final say on every target. So it is unsure whether he can strike up an amicable relationship with Sir Jim Ratcliffe if appointed as the next United boss.

Ratcliffe needs to thoroughly assess the pros and cons of appointing Tuchel since this is a decision he simply can't afford to go wrong with. The fans are waiting anxiously as the INEOS CEO ponders his next move.