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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
Stephen Killen & Matthew Hobkinson

Joe Cole claims Manchester United will be "kicking themselves" after Thomas Tuchel sacking

Former Chelsea player Joe Cole has claimed that Manchester United will be "kicking themselves" after Thomas Tuchel's recent departure from his former club.

Erik ten Hag did not have the best start to his time at United, as he suffered back-to-back Premier League defeats to Brighton and Brentford. The turnaround from those two matches has been incredible, with the Dutchman overseeing four successive wins against Liverpool, Southampton, Leicester and Arsenal.

Tuchel's sacking from Chelsea shows just how cruel the league can be, with the club's new owners not showing the patience that many thought they might. The Blues won the Champions League in 2021, but even that was not enough to buy the German any more time in West London.

ALSO READ: Exclusive: Ten Hag doing wrong-footed training with some United players

The news from Chelsea caught the footballing world off-guard, but Cole thinks that United would have wished the decision was made prior to United's confirmation for the arrival of Ten Hag at Old Trafford.

Cole told the Vibe with Five YouTube channel : "I don’t know how the Ten Hag things going to go, it’s looking promising at the minute. But Thomas Tuchel is exactly what Manchester United need, that type of character, I think he can galvanise a group. I think Ten Hag’s doing alright, I’m happy to wait to see how it goes.

"We have to say it was a different regime [at Chelsea] and the owners who I met in LA seem on it, great guys, passionate about the project. American sports teams get a manager in and stick with them, only time will tell. Certainly, if you’re looking for instant success, you don’t go with Potter because there’s no track record of him winning so it must be Chelsea are changing tact but I feel for Thomas Tuchel.

"I just think it’s harsh, top manager. I tell you who will be kicking themselves, Man United, that this didn’t happen three or four months ago."

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