Erik ten Hag admits United held Tuchel talks before retaining him as manager

Erik ten Hag has revealed that Manchester United admitted to having negotiations with Thomas Tuchel – before arguing that he was still the strongest candidate for the job.

Ten Hag’s position at United was under serious scrutiny (Courtesy: Reuters)

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has publicly acknowledged that the club engaged in discussions with Thomas Tuchel regarding the managerial position before deciding to retain him for the 2024/25 season. This revelation comes amid weeks of speculation about Ten Hag’s future, which was uncertain despite his team’s FA Cup victory over Manchester City. In an interview on Dutch television station NPO, Ten Hag, who recently learned he would continue as United’s manager, candidly addressed the situation. “Manchester United have told me that they spoke with Tuchel,” he confirmed. “But they eventually came to the conclusion that they already have the best manager.”

The speculation about Ten Hag’s potential departure intensified following an erratic Premier League campaign, where his side finished eighth and suffered a record 14 league defeats. Despite winning a second trophy in two seasons, the inconsistency in the league cast doubt on his tenure. Following reports that Manchester United were poised to make a managerial change, numerous coaches were linked to the position, including Mauricio Pochettino and Thomas Frank. Amongst them, Thomas Tuchel emerged as the frontrunner to succeed Ten Hag after declining to extend his tenure at Bayern Munich.

Ten Hag added that he was on holiday in Ibiza when United ‘showed up on his doorstep’ to tell him he would be staying in his position. On the process, he said: “INEOS took their time. They are new in football, it’s normal to reflect the season. It’s no secret that they talked with multiple candidates.” When he was asked how it felt to hear that the club spoke with other coaches, Ten Hag added: “Here in Holland this is ‘not done’, in fact, it’s not even allowed here. But in England they have different rules and laws.”

Tuchel, 50, is currently unemployed after parting ways with Bayern Munich following their failure to secure the Bundesliga title for the first time in 12 years. He was also rumored to be considering a return to Chelsea before Enzo Maresca was appointed as their new manager.