Why Tuchel COMMITTED to England amid Manchester United links | The Pitch
Thomas Tuchel’s recent decision to sign with the England national team has shocked many, amid ongoing speculation linking him with Manchester United. In this video, Daily Mail journalist Mike Keegan and Chelsea fan Louis Beneventi break down the key factors behind Tuchel and The FA's choice, including career strategy, stability, long-term vision, and the appeal of leading a national team. football englandfootball tuchel
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Thomas Tukul's New England contract does more than secure his services until 2028. It's also scared off at least one Premier League giant that had been lining him up for a summer move. Over the next hour, Daily Mail chief sports reporter Mike Keegan reveals details of a secret meeting between Tukul and Sir Jim Ratcliffe, while Chelsea FC fan expert Lie Beni explains what life is really like under Thomas Tukul, especially when it all starts to go pear-shaped. [music] Tukul's England deal has split opinion and has raised big questions about what comes next, World Cup success or disaster. So, consecutive defeats in Euros finals, a heartbreaking World Cup exit to France and that Spain defeat that was just an absolute car crash. We weren't the best team in the Euros by a long shot. >> After that defeat, where were you with England? >> I mean, I I was very much firmly in the camp of Dare Southgate kind of probably run his course. M >> um I I don't know what it is with with with English and uh people and the need to celebrate glorious failure. He sort of done his job, took the team as far as he could. We kind of see that come maybe the World Cup I felt. Um he looked very tired, looked very lethargic, the football wasn't that entertaining. And yes, we got to a final again, which is great, but at that point, it's all like getting over the line. And I don't think Gareth Southgate quite had what he needed to make sure that England team progressed to get into uh that that promised land of of another trophy for England. >> I mean Mike, you and I were over in Germany covering the Euros for so much of the tournament. We were calling them boring, calling it flat and you know, at least I was put words in your mouth. What were you thinking after the tournament? Were you thinking big changes immediately needed? >> I I thought after the tournament we needed somebody to take us over the line. Um, with regards to Gareth, you know, regardless of the optics, it's three tournaments, it's two semi-finals, and given where England were, that is an incredible job. But then you're kind of torn between, >> do we have the best players in the world? Should have we have gone one better than that. And yeah, I mean, there were there were times in Germany where it was awful >> until Bellingham. I still remember they get was it Slovakia when Bellingham scores over a kick? >> Who else? But I remember being on the ferry website ready to press the button to because I'd booked the ferry optimistically for the day after the final ready to book it for the following day. And that's you know we were seconds away from going out at the hands of Slovakia. >> I mean it was a it was a crazy tournament really because you know we came second in the end but there was no way we're the second best team in Europe in my opinion. I thought we were poor following the tournament. What was the FA thinking at that time? Well, I think we were the second best team in Europe because we finished second. Um, and that would be the concern. You know, with major tournaments, there's so much that can happen. Just because you're the best team doesn't necessarily mean that you're going to win it. You know, we've seen that quite often. I think for the FA, they had an inclination, well, more than an inclination. They they would have known that Southgate was going. He'd gone close to going before. I remember the game at Wolves where he got thrashed and he he just looked like a man who'd had enough. Agreed to stay on for another tournament. So, they had time to plan for this. They would have hoped that Southgate would have gone out with a trophy, but I think they they looked at it and thought, "Right, we are at a level now. We have these great players. We need someone who can come in who the players will respect, but who maybe has that tactical nouse to get us over the line." >> And you know, and that that tease you up, Lou, all the while Thomas Tukul is on the job hunt after a pretty uninspiring, you know, spell at Bayern. How did you feel about his Chelsea exit and the way that all unfolded? I mean, hindsight's 2020. I I look back at when he was going to lose his job. I look back at the Dagra game and you could kind of see the team was kind of done. I think he'd represent Chelsea superbly when it looked like that the club might not exist any longer when there was all the talk with the with the sanctions and you know, he was a great spokesperson for Chelsea, but he got everything he possibly could out of that team and that was it. new ownership, all change, different styles, that sort of stuff. As I said, hindsight's 2020. At the time, I thought it was the right move. Maybe maybe he he wasn't quite getting what he needed to. And now I look at where we are now, and my god, I pine for having Thomas Tical back at Chelsea. >> Why did he leave then? Was it footballing reasons or was it not? >> I think there's a combination of things. I think he disagreed with the new structure that was being put in place, the quote unquote collaborative nature with people that just quite frankly weren't in positions or have the nouse to to have that collaborative nature. >> Um, and also I think yeah, maybe footballing reasons and and personal stuff off the pitch. It's it's kind of what kind of pulled it all together for him to kind of move on from Chelsea. >> And Mike, what was his relationship like with the Chelsea ownership? >> Well, we got a glimpse. So I was on the preseason tour that summer uh and it was their first summer in charge. I think it was their hundth day when they got rid of Tool and you could tell in that camp that something wasn't right. So usually you go on these preseason tours and nobody's lost the game yet so everybody's really happy and there's a great atmosphere and with the manager it just seemed he they clearly not done enough business in the transfer market for him. And I'll never forget there was the game against Arsenal which I think in Orlando was the last of that tour. They got hammered 4-0. And I know you don't read too much into preseason friendlies, but he came out afterwards and he said, "Look, we're not ready." >> Which is the first time I've ever seen that from a manager in preseason. We also got a bit of a sniff of it. There was there was talks about, you know, they wanted to sign Ronaldo at the time and he wasn't on board with that and we came away from that trip thinking this this isn't going to last. >> Mhm. Really? So you thought even that early? >> Yeah. And I think by the September he was gone. >> Yeah. Yeah. No, he absolutely was. But let's think about England. So when Tukul did sign for England on the 16th of November, he uh he took his time and then on January the 1st, he started officially as the manager. Louis, based on what you saw from him from his Chelsea days, did you see it as a good appointment? >> Absolutely. He once was going to get you over the line, be adaptive, deal with the situations, have a winning mentality. There wasn't anyone better available on the job market for me. I think we were just talking about Gareth Southgate. Look, I credit where it's due. Look, when he took over at England, it was a mess. And you know, I don't think anyone's proud to watch England play football most of the time. You know, I think that semi-final runs against Croatia, obviously in in Russia, obviously Euros's final at Wembley. It kind of says everything. I think that the fact that England did get better. However, like I said, glorious failure does come to mind with Gareth Southgate. And I look at Tukul when he came in at Chelsea. We did look all over the place. A multitude of signings. wasn't really sure where everyone was going to fit in the side, but he changed, adapted, got the job done, won the Champions League. I mean, thumbs up. Done doing that in a few months. I'm not going to complain about that. He's superb and like I said, he's he's a great spokesperson as well. >> Well, he's Yeah, he's a winner. And that, you know, leads on to probably the biggest reason that the FA would have brought him in. You know, Southgate did such a good job in changing the culture and getting the country interested in the national team again, especially in 2018. It highlights the desperation to win a trophy, doesn't it? >> Yeah. Yeah, and I think it also highlights how far the FA to be fair to them and they get a lot of criticism have moved on. You know, you go back to when Gareth took the job, nobody else wanted it. Absolute car crash. You know, Big Sam goes after that scandal and we've got Gareth who at the time >> he's only experienced in management had been at Middlesbrough where he lost his job. So to have gone from there to the next appointment to be able to get someone who obviously Louis speaks very highly of who lots of people speaks very highly of who's been at Chelsea who's been at Bayern talks volumes about I think where England are now and the players at the England manager disposal. >> Well Seno and Ericson to Steve McLaren Fabio Capello to Roy Hodson to Samadise to Southgate to Tukul I think that sounds a little bit scattergun. It's like sometimes you're going for the foreign manager, then you go for a different option, then it's a very maybe does the FA do you think do they have a clear plan of what they want? >> I think the best way to respond to that is to ask a question which is can you give me at least five very good English managers that could take the job and actually take them forward. I don't think the FA actually until recently have really had a methodology which has kept up with sort of the the quality of coaches. I mean an English manager never won the Premier League. I mean that that answers the question. I mean there's a lack of quality in coaching within our nation. There are so many amazing coaches out there that don't get the opportunities but then also they don't have the qualifications or the the now to get those opportunities. So it's like a a recurring cycle. I think that look Thomas too getting the job. I get what you're saying about being scatter gun but I mean that that is the FA in a nutshell. I mean let's just talk about defend Paul goals on on the left wing like really come on like think about it. It's like the the whole approach is it is has been very scatter gun but I think again as much as I despise the football that Gareth Southgate played he built a culture and that's that's great and that's really important. So now it's a case of building on that and I think look like I said at the time there's no one better. >> It's interesting what you say about Sven on the wing because one of Tukul's strengths is that he isn't wedded to a particular system. He gets the best out of the players and he plays the system that works best for them. Uh Mike during the Euro Southgate didn't seem to really know what he wanted to do. I think there was the switch in midfield as Connor Gallalagha Trent and eventually Kobenu came in there. >> Do you think that's one of the strengths that England can look forward to with Tukul then? He he's he's used to being playing the three at the back at Chelsea as we saw but actually he's not wedded to it. He can he can evolve. >> Yeah, and I think more than that he will pick the best team. Uh Lou alluded to it the ludicrous situation with Paul's goals on the left. We've seen it already with Tul. He is not going to try and accommodate all his best players. He is going to try and pick the best team. And that will mean that there will be big players that aren't in the England starting 11. And I suppose the big issue then is his ability to manage those players when he's not selecting them, which will be a key in this World Cup. But the best international managers are the ones who identify the best 11 as a team rather than I mean we saw it with Lee Ksley when he tried to crowbar all his best attacking players into the game one of the games that he had in charge is a disaster. That's never going to happen with this guy. I think he's got the courage of his convictions. I like this his dealing with Jude Bellingham so far. It shows that nobody's bigger than the team, which you could argue we've is something that we've not had at recent tournaments. So, look, this could probably bite us on the backside, but at the moment, everything's pointing in the right direction. >> And you've seen Chelsea reached the pinnacle of European football under Thomas Tukul. >> That was quite a defensive setup that Chelsea had against Manchester City. But to be honest with you, watching it, I >> mean, I'm an Arsenal fan. I don't know. I don't know if I wanted City to win their first one or I couldn't really stand the thought of you winning your second one to be honest either. I couldn't see them scoring in 180 minutes then. I think that is the best defensive performance I've ever seen. >> Well, I I think >> so my point is do you think he's the best person for England because of cuz he you know he can get the best out of a string of players. >> Well, I think it's the adaptive I mean if we want to go even further back I've mentioned Sven. Let's talk about Sir Alf Ramsey the the the one England manager deserves a nighthood in my opinion cuz he actually won it. Um Jack Charlton wasn't really sure if he was going to get in the team cuz he wasn't sure about his quality in comparison to other players, but he was the best person for that 11 to go and win the World Cup. >> You then look at what he did at Chelsea with Thomas Tukul >> and there are players that missed out, but there are players adapted. Mason Mount is a number eight midfielder becomes an inside forward becomes the player which gets the assist for Chelsea to win the Champions League with an amazing pass in that pocket in those spaces. He turns Callum Hudson Adoy into a wing back. you know, there's those players where he goes, "Okay, well, I'm gonna adapt to what I have. I'm going to build the system and then I'm going to push forward." I I think the amount of talent that England have, it just gives you so many opportunities to have so many different shapes, take on so many different teams and do so many different things. And I think the beauty for it is that we're going to be more adaptive in this tournament than we have been in the past. And I think that was something which, you know, we alluded to it earlier. Deter wasn't really that adaptive. didn't really know what to do with that midfield. Whereas we can go this, well, if we need to play back three, we have the options to do it. If we need to play back four, we have the options to do it. If you want to have five attacking players, but still have a solid shape, he will build a team to do that. And he'll also, I think, have the approach which maybe wasn't so soft, which was a bit soft under South. I thought maybe there's a lot of passion merchantry going on, but not a lot of nouse. In my opinion, we're combining both now with with Thomas Tul. And I I really think that he's going to be the person with those different styles of play, with that mentality, with everything which can get England across the line. >> Do you think that's important? Do you reckon it's more important to be adaptable or to have a philosophy and a style of playing? >> Well, if you want to just win games, you got to be adaptable. >> It's got to be reactive and proactive. You You can't have a philosophy. The philosophy was built under Gareth Southgate. That's that's what that was for. That was we're nurturing this team. This is now >> go in the tournament. And I think again he'll have the adaptive nature to do that. >> Do you uh Mike care seeing England play in a tournament about how how they actually play. Are your results purely or do you want to be entertained as well? >> When it comes to England it's results. >> Um I don't really care. You know people had these romantic memories of Italian 90 and Pavarotti and how great England were and Gaza was great but England were awful for large parts of that tournament. the Euros that we've just seen. Would anyone have remembered that where England were awful for the tournament had they beaten Spain in the final? And I think that's what Tukul brings. Yes, they might entertain, but I think that's a byproduct. >> The f first and foremost, it's about results. I mean, the his name escapes the kid from Forest who they got from Newcastle Anderson. Elliot Anderson >> is a case in point. >> Who thinks Elliot Anderson is going to get in that starting nailed on in that starting 11 before Tukul gets there? But he sees it. He sees this is what this team is missing. I don't care that he's not a Bellingham or he's got this, you know, amazing following and everybody thinks he's wonderful. This is what we need. It's it's pragmatism. And I think that's what he brings. >> Well, the crux of the matter is that Turul has signed a 2-year deal before a ball in the World Cup has been kicked. He he know reports suggest he views it as a as an incredible opportunity to lead the country into a home euros. And the FA says it removes a potential distraction. Mike, what would that potential distraction be? >> Us. [laughter] >> Every press conference. Uh, yeah. Turning up asking him >> what what his plans for United are. Um, it's just, you know, when are you going to leave? When are you going to sign your new contract? This puts all that noise to bed >> so they can just concentrate on the tournament at hand. Um, and again, you know, from the FA's perspective, whether that United link is as strong as some would have you believe remains to be seen, but they they've tied their man down. They've got rid of that noise. And, you know, they they would say that he signed an 18-month contract originally because he'd never managed international before. He wasn't sure whether this was going to be for him. Obviously, it's a big shift. They would say that since then, he's loving it. the players clearly like him because they sought the opinion of the players before extending his deal because that's what they do with the leadership group. >> So it it almost feels like a no-brainer. Why would you do it? Yes, there are other clubs sniff sniffing around. It's not just United. It's Spurs. Get rid of all that noise. Concentrate on this tournament and then obviously we've got a home euros. And what they'd also say is after the World Cup, such a short gap to the Nations League, it's not great to be messing around after the World Cup in the aftermath trying to find a new a new coach when you've got to hit the ground running. >> Do you think that United have affirmed up their interest in terms of >> the honest answer is that I don't know. >> Um there are two ways of looking at it. So what we do know is that United were keen on him when they were omen and over whether to sack Tenhag and made the with hindsight disastrous decision to give him a new contract. They met Tukul um he met Jim Ratliffe I'm told in Monaco. I'm not sure if it was on his yacht or not. I like to think it was on the yacht. Um but it didn't happen >> and you know that I think they were ready to pull the trigger on Tenhark. So, one way of looking at it is if it didn't happen two years ago, why would it happen now? What's changed? Now, if you were to be cynical about it, if you're Thomas Tukul or you're part of Thomas Tukul's entourage, you're liking this life as an England manager, would it be the worst thing in the world for all the media to instantly link you with this Manchester United job, even if you know that two years ago they didn't give it you and there's a chance they might not give it you again. So, do you think this contract then is more about the distraction and it putting England off during the tournament or more genuinely to ward off potential suitors? >> I think there are valid reasons if you are the FA to say we have brought him in for this tournament and the next because the it's a home euros. So, that's