Man Utd sent 'destroyed' warning amid fresh Thomas Tuchel links

Manchester United are now preparing for the FA Cup final, taking on city rivals Manchester City at Wembley Stadium this weekend. Erik ten Hag’s men endured a long and difficult Premier League season, missing out on the European spots, and the FA Cup is now their only remaining route into Europe.

That makes this an even bigger game, while the usual carrot of bragging rights also hangs in front of them. As preparations ramp up, we have rounded up all the latest news surrounding Old Trafford.

Carragher on FA Cup final

Jamie Carragher is not convinced that United believe they can defeat City in this weekend’s FA Cup final. United will go into the final as the underdogs, given the disparity between the two teams this season, but even underdogs usually believe they can make the impossible possible, and especially in the FA Cup.

But according to Carragher, that won’t be the case at Old Trafford. The pundit told Sky Sports: “I don’t think anybody from Manchester United, whether the manager, the players, or the fans, is going to that game [FA Cup final] believing that they can win.”

Merson advice

Paul Merson believes United cannot afford to start Casemiro in the back-line in the FA Cup final. “If Casemiro starts at the back again, don’t worry about tactics, don’t worry about counter-attacking football, don’t worry about anything – they’ll be destroyed,” Merson told Sky Sports.

“He cannot play there, he’s not a centre-back, especially against one of the best in the business – that’s an absolute no-go. They need to get someone fit, or come up with a different plan. With that plan, there’s only one outcome. He’s a midfielder, he’s been a top-top midfielder, but don’t ask him to go up against Erling Haaland. He’s got no chance.”

Moyes claim

Jurgen Klinsmann has made a surprise claim over United’s managerial situation. The former Germany international believes David Moyes was sacked too soon by United, with a number of managers having been in place since then.

Speaking on ESPN FC, Klinsmann said: “I always thought David Moyes was the absolute perfect fit, and I still think it today, for Man United. But they didn’t even give him a year. Ferguson was given four or five years to win his first trophies. Today, it’s a very tricky environment for managers and the clubs as well.” Moyes has since gone on to enjoy a successful spell at West Ham United which comes to an end this summer, with this season having been his last.

Tuchel links

Amid uncertainty over Ten Hag’s future, United have been tipped to appoint now former Bayern Munich head coach Thomas Tuchel. Tuchel told he had no future at Bayern months before the end of the season, though the Bavarian club later returned to the negotiating table only for the German to walk away anyway.

The former Chelsea boss is now being linked with the United job, with The Guardian saying he is the frontrunner for the job at Old Trafford if Ten Hag gets the boot following the conclusion of this season.