Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

Thomas Tuchel was clearly of interest to Manchester United
co-owner Jim Ratcliffe in the summer but talks came to nothing and the flawed
decision to stick with Erik ten Hag – and the subsequent expensive outlay on a
new contract for the manager and more signings – was made.

United clearly felt Tuchel was not the man for them but will
they now regret not going in again for the German who has lived his life in
elite coaching circles before he was appointed as the new England coach by the Football
Association?

Tuchel is known to be high maintenance and has had uneasy
relationships with those in power above him before, but he is a proven winner, bringing the
Champions League to Chelsea and also taking Paris St. Germain to the final.

He, perhaps, did not suggest the sort of stability and calm United
might want as they enter a new era with a restructured club, but Tuchel has the
highest credentials.

Given that United have so many people in the Old Trafford hierarchy these
days, it is the least their supporters would expect that Ratcliffe and his cohorts
will have already formalised a clear next step and that huge global fanbase
will be watching their every more.

It remains to be seen if Tuchel turns out to be the one that
got away.