As pressure builds on Manchester United boss Erik Ten Hag, the start of the international break will see more speculation around his future – with decision-makers INEOS set to meet in the coming days.
On the first day of the international break, the Manchester Evening News report that United are lining up Thomas Tuchel as a potential replacement, leading fans to wonder what he may bring to Old Trafford that Ten Hag doesn’t.
While Ten Hag trumpets his FA Cup final win over Manchester City last season, a success that saved his job, Tuchel boasts a more significant final win of his own against Pep Guardiola – the 2021 Champions League.
And throughout their 12 meetings in the dugout, Guardiola has accumulated enough knowledge to offer United a comprehensive overview of what the German offers any team he manages. In fact, only six managers have more victories against Guardiola – Jurgen Klopp, Jose Mourinho, Mauricio Pochettino, Carlo Ancelotti, Antonio Conte and former United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Tuchel has three wins and two draws in 12 meetings with Guardiola across spells at Mainz, Borussia Dortmund, Chelsea and Bayern Munich – the pair avoiding each other while Tuchel was at PSG. Eight of those games have been draws or separated by just one goal.
One of the main criticisms aimed at Ten Hag is his tactical flexibility – often looking to change personnel rather than his system – as well as their frustrating habit of shipping soft goals in quick succession. So Guardiola’s words ahead of the Champions League final, after Tuchel had recorded back-to-back wins over Guardiola, will encourage United, as he praised Tuchel’s ability to step in and turn a side into a solid, hard-to-beat unit.
He said: “Why Chelsea play so good… because they have three central defenders close, the two holding midfielders who move in relation are close, the pockets are close, the striker and the two [others in attack] are so, so close. The distances are so close, and at the same time they are so wide with the wing backs, they are so good with the ball in behind.
“That’s why you cannot be close because they push you [out wide] and they have a lot of good players in the middle. That’s why it’s difficult to face teams who want the ball and want to play with the ball. We’ve tried to do it since day one.”
Tuchel has deployed various systems against City – switching between three or four at the back. Ironically, after Guardiola’s comments, Tuchel played a 4-3-3 formation in the final against City, the first time he had set up a side like that against Guardiola. At Bayern Munich, Tuchel opted for a 3-4-2-1 formation across the 2023 Champions League quarter-finals.
In 2022, Guardiola praised Tuchel’s tactical creativity – not something the German is often renowned for. “He’s so creative, One of the few managers I learn constantly from to develop as a better manager,” he said.
“[He is] excellent in all departments. I enjoyed him since he was in Mainz. I enjoy watching his teams and the way he’s playing and the approach. He makes world football better. When you find a manager who always wants to be positive in the way they play, it’s good.”
Ahead of those 2023 meetings, Guardiola again had plenty of positive endorsements for Tuchel, offering further insight into the style of play he could offer United.
“He’s so creative with good build-up and connection, good runners and players who are good in the spaces,” the City boss said. “He went to Paris and did really well, not just winning the league but getting final of Champions League, the way they played was good and Chelsea he did a good job.”