Just a few months after private discussions between Thomas Tuchel and Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Manchester United appeared poised to make the bold move of appointing the German as their new manager.
During the summer, when it seemed Erik ten Hag might depart, Tuchel was a top candidate for the role. However, Ratcliffe and his group ultimately decided to stick with Ten Hag.
With United enduring their worst-ever start to a Premier League season, The Manchester Evening News reported that Ten Hag’s future was again in doubt, leading the club to reconsider Tuchel as a possible replacement.
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While the club explored other options, Tuchel’s availability made him an attractive candidate. Despite Bayern Munich’s last-minute efforts to retain him, Tuchel departed the club at the end of the previous season.
Although there were discussions with Tuchel as recently as the summer, no agreement was reached. Reports from Bild suggest that Tuchel decided not to continue negotiations due to disagreements over the club’s transfer strategy. During these talks, Tuchel reportedly outlined his vision for the team, including how to revitalize players such as Mason Mount and Jadon Sancho.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe was present at Aston Villa on Sunday, watching alongside key figures such as CEO Omar Berrada and new sporting director Dan Ashworth during a frustrating 0-0 draw. United, now languishing in 14th place in the Premier League, has managed just two wins from their first seven matches.
When questioned by the BBC last Friday about his confidence in Ten Hag, Ratcliffe sidestepped the issue, saying, “I don’t want to address that question. Erik is a nice person, and I think he’s a good coach, but ultimately the Manchester United management team has to decide how to best manage the club.” He also pointed out that the current management team, including Berrada and Ashworth, had only been in place since the summer, emphasizing the need for thoughtful decisions to steer United back to its rightful place.