“Manchester United shouldn’t be this way” — Thomas Tuchel

Thomas Tuchel, the Bayern Munich manager, frowns at the current situation at Manchester United after the Red Devils crashed out of Europe on Tuesday night.

In a post match interview, the former Chelsea boss delivered a pointed analysis following his team’s 1-0 victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford, securing the English side’s exit from the Champions League group stage.

Manchester United entered the match aware that only a win could salvage their hopes of progressing, contingent on a draw between Copenhagen and Galatasaray.

However, Copenhagen’s triumph sealed United’s fate, barring them from advancing to the knockout stages and relegating them to a potential Europa League play-off round.

Tuchel’s Bayern emerged victorious with Kingsley Coman’s 70th-minute goal proving decisive, marking Tuchel’s successful return to England since his departure from Chelsea in September 2022.

In dissecting United’s shortcomings in this season’s Champions League, Tuchel highlighted critical moments where the club faltered.

“In some of [United’s] matches, games changed in a blink of an eye,” Tuchel remarked, referencing instances where United squandered leads in previous fixtures against Istanbul and Copenhagen.

He acknowledged United as a formidable but unpredictable side, expressing surprise at their bottom-place finish in the group.

When asked about his astonishment at United’s position, Tuchel stated,

“Yeah, this is a huge club and not what you expect. In the group, you expect also Manchester United challenging for the win of the group and a place in the round of 16.”

Bayern Munich secured the top spot in their group with an impressive 16 points from six games, dropping their only points in a home draw against Copenhagen.

For Manchester United, their focus now shifts to the Premier League, where they face the daunting task of an impending clash against Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday, amid their disappointment in European competition.