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Manchester United will “reignite” talks with Thomas Tuchel should the club decide to part ways with Erik ten Hag following the club’s poor start to the season, according to a report by iNews.
Sam Cunningham, iNews‘ Chief Football Correspondent, reveals Old Trafford executives will “resume talks” with the Tuchel after United came “close” to appointing the German manager as a replacement for Ten Hag in the summer.
INEOS, who gained full control over the football operation at Old Trafford in February following the ratification of Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s co-ownership bid, conducted a comprehensive ‘end-of-season review’ following a dismal campaign for United.
Ten Hag’s position was precarious, despite the triumph of the FA Cup win at Wembley at the end of May over local rivals Manchester City, and INEOS actively interviewed a number of prospective replacements for the Dutchman.
Tuchel was considered the primary option and, according to Cunningham, the club were considering pulling the trigger on a move, only for “talks to break down due to disagreements about how much power the German would have and the financial package” involved. Mauricio Pochettino and Thomas Frank were also approached.
Eventually, INEOS decided to stick with Ten Hag and the 54-year-old received a one-year extension to his current contract, with the new executive structure at Old Trafford throwing their full weight firmly behind the Dutchman over the summer.
However, United’s abject start to the season, which, in many ways, feels more like a continuation of last year’s campaign, only without the excuse of an overwhelming injury crisis to excuse inexcusable performances, has seen the pressure on Ten Hag ramp up immensely in recent weeks.
The Red Devils’ 0-3 loss to Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, which saw the London side rack up the highest xG by an away side in recorded history at Old Trafford en route to a comfortable demolition, was the latest low in a long list during Ten Hag’s reign.
And the Dutchman’s misery look set to be compounded last night in Portugal as United trailed 3-2 to Porto with a few minutes left to play, down to ten men following Bruno Fernandes’ second red card in five days. But a well-taken, and extremely well-timed, header from Harry Maguire in the 91st minute spared United, and Ten Hag’s, blushes.
The game was an all too familiar tale for Ten Hag’s team, however.
Two-nil up after twenty minutes in a European fixture away from home – it’s the recipe for a perfect midweek result. Yet United conspired to throw away their lead in the space of seven minutes in the first-half, going into half-time level. And then, despite fifteen minutes to compose themselves with their manager’s instructions ringing in their ears, they immediately conceded again, just five minutes into the beginning of the second-half.
From 2-0 up to 3-2 down in the space of thirty minutes.
While this would infuriate any manager, and fans would normally be justified in directing their ire at the individual mistakes perpetrated by the players, the frequency with which this type of implosion by United has occurred during Ten Hag’s reign means the 54-year-old must shoulder the blame.
Without Maguire’s last-minute equaliser, the pressure the Dutchman is under would have gone into overdrive today. But with the prospect of an away trip to Villa Park on Sunday, to play Unai Emery’s impressive Aston Villa side, this relief feels more like a stay of execution than any meaningful salvation.
The October international break follows this weekend’s game; widely seen in footballing circles as a good time to make a managerial chance, given the club has two weeks to implement the transition from one coach to another before a competitive fixture.
United’s next four matches after the break are Brentford (H), Fenerbahce (A), West Ham (A) and Leicester (H). This is a favourable run of games which executive branches at clubs also prefer to have on the horizon when appointing a new manager as it makes it more likely they will hit the ground running.
The noises emanating from Old Trafford are ones of patience and restraint. The club’s leaders do not want to rush into a choice which would essentially reverse the decision made in the summer, but Ten Hag’s position is increasingly untenable. A comprehensive loss to Aston Villa, a direct rival for top four this season, feels as if may be the straw which breaks the Dutchman’s back.
And it seems as if the club are willing to re-enter negotiations with Tuchel should they decide to move on from Ten Hag. It’s a choice which makes sense, given the German’s tactical adaptability and his experience at major European clubs as well within English football, but it feels unlikely he will significantly compromise on the demands which prevented a deal from happening just four months ago.
However, given the scarcity of viable alternatives elsewhere, perhaps INEOS are now willing to be the ones who compromise as they consider options to salvage a season which appears already on the brink of disaster for United; and we haven’t even hit Halloween yet.
October is likely to provide a treat for Tuchel but only if it first involves an unfortunate trick for Ten Hag.
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