Tuchel the most attractive option for Ineos - but never most likely

OF all the candidates to replace Erik ten Hag as United manager, Thomas Tuchel was the one who could present the most glittering CV and the most compelling personality to manage a club the size of this one.

- TYRONE MARSHALL

The 50-year-old German is a master communicator in his native language and in English and in two press conferences ahead of United's Champions League group stage games against Bayern Munich last season he spoke superbly, including giving his opinion of the similarity of the challenge in managing both clubs. But there is a reason his candidacy to add another 'super club' to his resume never really got off the ground. In fact, there are probably several.

Tuchel's Champions League success with Chelsea in 2020/21 was a major achievement, but aside from that his honours don't stand out.

A couple of routine league titles with Paris St-Germain, the 2022/23 Bundesliga title with Bayern Munich that owed more to Borussia Dortmund's final-day collapse than Bayern's brilliance.

This season he has guided Bayern to third in the Bundesliga, ending their run of 11 straight titles despite signing Harry Kane (36 goals in 32 Bundesliga games) last summer.

The brilliance of Bayer Leverkusen has dominated the narrative in Germany, but Tuchel has steered Bayern to what in their world must go down as a dismal campaign.