Tuchel to Man Utd: How would the Red Devils line up?
Robin Bairner
- 17 Mar 2022 08:14 CDT
- 3 min read
Manchester United have been linked with a mid-season swoop for Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel.
The German may have pledged his allegiance to the Stamford Bridge outfit – at least until the end of the season – but the possibility of ongoing sanctions against the club if a sale is not completed imminently have thrown Tuchel’s future into some doubt.
Indeed, Man Utd are ready to pounce, with the Daily Star even reporting that the Red Devils will try to appoint the former Paris Saint-Germain and Borussia Dortmund boss before the end of the season.
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It had been anticipated that Ralf Rangnick would hold the interim post until the summer, but results have been such that Man Utd’s place in next season’s Champions League is in serious doubt – while they are already out of this term’s competition at the last-16 phase.
Tuchel would, of course, bring a radically different interpretation of the game to Old Trafford, but how might he choose to line up the team given the players that are currently at the club’s disposal?
What would Man Utd's starting XI be under Tuchel?
The Chelsea manager has typically favoured playing with three central defenders. Given a relative lack of options, Raphael Varane, Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof are the obvious selections. A wildcard option could also be bringing Luke Shaw as a left-sided centre-back, much like Cesar Azpilicueta plays for Chelsea.
Shaw would more typically be expected to feature as the left wing-back. Aaron Wan-Bissaka or Diogo Dalot on the right would likely be stop-gap options until the summer.
Similarly, Man Utd lack a player in the mould of Jorginho. Tuchel’s hands would be tied in midfield, with Fred and Scott McTominay or Paul Pogba the likely combination. With Pogba set to leave in the summer, the Scotsman would be the better bet to finish the season.
There would be little value throwing another central midfielder into the mix, so the probability is that Man Utd would play with two playmakers behind Cristiano Ronaldo in attack. Bruno Fernandes is the obvious pick here, with Jadon Sancho’s versatility and trickery giving a player who is traditionally a winger the edge for that final spot.
