Thomas Tuchel has emerged as the frontrunner to replace Erik ten Hag as Manchester United’s manager should the club decide on a change.
He is understood to have the requisite profile as an accomplished tactician with vast experience of working in major clubs. Tuchel is a free agent having just finished with Bayern Munich and has previously led clubs including Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea, the latter position meaning the German has a track record in the Premier League.
There is confidence at United that he has the temperament to handle seasoned players and an admiration of a CV that includes winning the 2021 Champions League with Chelsea.
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Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who controls United’s football policy, is leading the process of identifying potential replacements for Ten Hag in conjunction with his key lieutenant, Sir Dave Brailsford, Jean Claude-Blanc, the acting chief executive, and Jason Wilcox, the technical director.
The decision on Ten Hag’s future will become clear after Saturday’s FA Cup final against Manchester City, which the manager said Harry Maguire will miss because of injury.
Ipswich Town’s Kieran McKenna, who is a target for Chelsea and Brighton, Brentford’s Thomas Frank, the England manager, Gareth Southgate, and Mauricio Pochettino, who left Chelsea on Tuesday, are also on the shortlist.
Before the trip to Wembley Ten Hag defended a record that includes winning last season’s Carabao Cup and losing the FA Cup final to City 12 months ago. “It’s all about trophies but you need an opportunity to win a trophy,” he said. “So in the last 10 years not so many trophies in this club, but we have an opportunity to win two trophies in two years.”
Ten Hag was asked what he would say to those who view the final as his last match. “I came here to win trophies,” he said. “I have nothing to say. Just focusing on the job I have to do and that is first win the game on Saturday and then the project, keep going with the project.”
United’s hierarchy are due to review the season next week. Ten Hag said he had held a debrief on the season with his employers: “We spoke about it lately. Underneath there are very good things, [young] players coming up and players developing, values coming up and at the same time we have on Saturday a big opportunity to win the next trophy.”
On Tuesday Southgate left Marcus Rashford, who has scored eight goals for United this season, out of England’s training squad for the Euros. Ten Hag believes this will motivate the forward on Saturday. “He looks good,” he said. “That is a career: ups and downs. A down can also give fuel and that is what I see in training – he will be highly motivated. He can speak with his feet, highly intelligent. He has had a big career. I’m sure he will get over this and get more goals.”
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Ten Hag was asked whether Maguire, Anthony Martial, Mason Mount and Victor Lindelöf were available. “Harry Maguire is unavailable but for the rest, all of the players you mentioned are available,” he said. “Tomorrow final training and we make final decisions but the way I see it now it looks good. It [Maguire’s problem] didn’t heal as expected.”
Maguire is recovering from a muscle problem and it is unclear whether this will threaten his participation in the Euros.