Manchester United could turn to the former Chelsea manager (Picture: Getty)
Rene Meulensteen insists former Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel ‘could deal’ with the Manchester United job if was he chosen to replace Erik ten Hag.
Ten Hag has a week to save his job at Old Trafford after United’s poor start to the season and a harrowing 3-0 defeat to Tottenham at the weekend.
Manchester United have decided to stick by Ten Hag despite the dismal loss to Spurs but will likely sack the Dutchman unless the team produces two improved performances against Porto, who they face on Thursday night, and Aston Villa, who they meet on Sunday.
Ten Hag’s assistant Ruud van Nistelrooy and ex-England manager Gareth Southgate have been linked with Manchester United as they get ever closer to pulling the trigger, but Meulensteen believes Tuchel should also be considered.
Tuchel has enjoyed success to varying degrees at Borussia Dortmund, Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and Bayern Munich. He has been out of work since leaving the Allianz Arena at the end of last season.
Intriguingly, Manchester United spoke to Tuchel about potentially replacing Ten Hag over the summer before ultimately deciding to give their current boss more time.
‘Thomas Tuchel is a strong character and a strong personality, I think he has a clear idea of how he wants to play and I think he could deal with managing a huge club like Manchester United,’ Sir Alex Ferguson’s former assistant Meulensteen told BoyleSports, who offer the latest Premier League odds.
Thomas Tuchel spoke to Old Trafford bosses over the summer (Picture: Getty)
‘Messages from managers need to be conveyed to the team very, very loud and very, very clearly and he is the sort of person and character that could handle a club the size of Manchester United.
‘He has managed huge clubs and he knows what the Premier League is all about, the only interesting factor is why things didn’t progress after he spoke to the club last summer. Maybe he had a few questions that weren’t answered.
‘Manchester United is only about one thing. It’s competing for the biggest trophies and that includes the Premier League and doing well as they can in the Champions League, Tuchel has shown in the past that he can win trophies.’
Meulensteen believes time is running out for Ten Hag to prove he can take Manchester United back to the top and has been ‘frustrated’ by the club’s lack of progress.
‘Managers should get given and take 18 months to get their feet under the table and get their style across to the players as well as create the culture they want at the club, after that it is all your project and not of the manager who was there before,’ he added.
‘Then you need to see clear evidence of a structure and identity on the pitch but after a positive first season, Erik ten Hag hasn’t been able to build on that and there is a real frustration …read more
Source:: Metro
