Manchester United secured their spot in the FA Cup final for the second consecutive season, but the victory was overshadowed by concerns about their performance under Erik ten Hag’s management.
Initially, United dominated the first half against Championship side Coventry, taking a 3-0 lead with Bruno Fernandes’ goal in the 58th minute.
Despite their strong start, United lost control of the game in the final 30 minutes, allowing Coventry to score twice in seven minutes and narrow the gap.
The situation became even tenser when Aaron Wan-Bissaka conceded a penalty in added time, which Haji Wright converted to complete Coventry’s remarkable comeback.
The match nearly ended in extra time, with Coventry narrowly missing out on victory due to a tight offside call.
Although United eventually won the penalty shootout, questions arose regarding Ten Hag’s in-game decisions and management style.
Reports from German outlet Kicker’s Georg Holzner suggested that United minority owner Ratcliffe had already been considering potential replacements for Ten Hag before the Wembley match.
Ratcliffe reportedly spoke with Bayern Munich manager Thomas Tuchel about the possibility of joining United for the next season, should Ten Hag depart.
Tuchel, who has been with Bayern for one and a half years, could potentially leave on a high note as the team is through to the Champions League semi-finals.
Interestingly, there is a connection between Tuchel and Ratcliffe, as Tuchel was in charge of Chelsea when Ratcliffe made a late bid for the club in 2022.
Although Tuchel was later sacked by Chelsea in September 2022, Ratcliffe may see an opportunity to work with him at Old Trafford.
Overall, United’s victory in the FA Cup was overshadowed by concerns about their performance and management, leading to speculation about a potential managerial change and Tuchel’s potential role in the club’s future.
