Thomas Tuchel is the most suitable choice to become the next coach of Manchester United. However, it seems few people want to admit that, because his number one priority at this time is to lead the England team to the World Cup in the summer.
This is clearly a distracting factor that the English Football Association (FA) does not want to appear right before the tournament - where Tuchel is brought in with the ultimate goal of conquering the title. And almost certainly, Tuchel will not welcome questions surrounding this issue, although in fact he may not have to bear much media pressure until the England team plays the next match in March.
However, Tuchel meets the most stringent criteria that Man United is looking for. The "Red Devils" have clearly stated their desire to appoint an experienced coach in the Premier League - which can be seen as a lesson learned after Ruben Amorim's entire reign. Besides, Tuchel is a strategist who has been proven at the highest level, has international prestige and has worked in a pressured environment at top teams.
The German coach once led Chelsea to the Champions League title, and also had time coaching at Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain. Tuchel's profile therefore has almost no doubts, and is clearly different from a name like Oliver Glasner - who is doing his job very well at Crystal Palace.
However, leading Crystal Palace is a completely different challenge from Man United. Along with that is the familiar debate about management capacity at a higher level and whether Glasner is really suitable for the specific environment at Old Trafford or not.
Glasner may succeed, but that choice means Man United is entering a risky and uncertain zone. Conversely, Tuchel brings a greater sense of security thanks to proven experience and bravery.
In fact, Man United seems to have decided to use the interim coach option until the summer. Darren Fletcher led the team in the match against Burnley, and the possibility of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer returning to coach until the end of the season is also mentioned. However, that prospect sounds somewhat unbelievable and has the appearance of a step backwards rather than a long-term solution.
But that choice was implemented with a clear intention: patiently waiting to approach the best candidate, then everything depends on whether the timing is favorable or not. It would be naive to believe that Man United's pursuit of Tuchel will not create distraction. When there is still uncertainty surrounding the head coach position of the England team right before a major tournament, things rarely go smoothly.
Tuchel has shown satisfaction, even excitement, with his current role. He also hinted at wanting to have a contract longer than 18 months - the expected term to end after the World Cup. Up to this point, Tuchel has also done his job well. The England team has gone through a perfect qualifying campaign and will enter the World Cup as a strong candidate.
This is an opportunity for Tuchel and the England team to make a truly unforgettable mark. For him personally, it could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so it is hard to believe if he neglects it. However, Tuchel was contacted by Man United before and the reality is that any coach can hardly resist the temptation when Old Trafford really opens up.
Like many other big clubs, Man United is still facing structural and foundational problems for success. But even so, any top captain in the world will have to pay attention if Man United shows serious interest. That is why, even as the World Cup is approaching, this story still has enough conditions to continue to develop.
