We ran a simulation of Thomas Tuchel’s debut season as the manager of Manchester United, and the outcome is truly remarkable.
We ran a simulation of Thomas Tuchel’s inaugural season as Manchester United’s manager, and the outcomes were nothing short of astonishing. Tuchel’s debut season at the helm of Man Utd was a rollercoaster ride.
As the frontrunner to succeed Erik ten Hag if he departs from Old Trafford this summer, Tuchel’s departure from Bayern Munich after a disappointing Bundesliga season has sparked speculations. Despite losing their 11-year grip on the title to Bayer Leverkusen, Bayern Munich remains in contention in the Champions League, where Tuchel previously triumphed with Chelsea in 2021. Reports suggest that United’s minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS have initiated talks with Tuchel about potentially taking over as manager.
We delved into Football Manager 2024, using real-life squads projected for the end of the season, to simulate Tuchel’s 2024/25 campaign with United. Tuchel’s first move was convincing Jadon Sancho to stay, along with securing a new contract for Anthony Martial under revised terms. While the summer transfer window saw modest activity, the January window was a flurry of activity. United snagged wonderkid Roony Bardghji, signed Fabinho on a free transfer, acquired Marc Cucurella on loan from Chelsea, and surprisingly welcomed Lionel Messi for a nominal fee, among other deals. The only significant departure was goalkeeper Altay Bayindir, who fetched a substantial return to Fenerbahce.
On the pitch, Tuchel guided United to a commendable fourth-place finish in the Premier League, securing a return to the Champions League. However, their FA Cup and Carabao Cup campaigns ended prematurely. Rasmus Hojlund emerged as the top scorer, with notable contributions from Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford. United also clinched the Europa Conference League, defeating Atalanta in the final.
Tactically, Tuchel implemented a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Casemiro and Mason Mount anchoring the midfield. The squad’s standout performers included Rashford, Luke Shaw, and Andre Onana, while Messi made a notable impact despite his limited appearances.
While our simulation provides intriguing insights, the actual 2024/25 season at Manchester United may unfold differently, especially concerning blockbuster signings like Messi.
