🔗 Share this article

In the case of Marc Guéhi, a fleeting flicker of self-doubt was natural. The Crystal Palace defender had excelled for England at the European Championships, cementing himself as a key pick under Gareth Southgate, and his status stayed intact after Lee Carsley’s tenure in the first half of last season.

Enter the new boss, and it is worth remembering that this was the coach who had sanctioned Guéhi’s sale from Stamford Bridge to Palace in the summer of 2021. Guéhi definitely remembered that. Was Tuchel rate him? When the new broom swept Dan Burn into the starting XI for his first game in charge, against Albania at Wembley in March, with Guéhi as an uninvolved reserve, it wasn’t promising.

Tuchel selected Guéhi in the next game, against Latvia, again at Wembley, before he was unable to pick him for his next gathering in June, which took in the matches versus Andorra on the road and Senegal in Nottingham. Guéhi had sustained an eye injury during his club’s memorable FA Cup final victory against Manchester City.

“I’d say it’s natural for every player to almost doubt that,” Guéhi says, looking back at his omission against Albania. “You know, new manager coming in … who knows what the squad’s going to be, who knows who is going to play?”

The thing Guéhi then did was exactly what he typically does – stay completely in the moment, as composed as he could be. This approach would serve him well during a hectic end to the summer transfer window when the club chairman, Steve Parish, prevented his proposed move to Liverpool.

The following day, Guéhi joined up with England for the matches against Andorra at Villa Park and Serbia in Belgrade and he worked like a demon. Nobody would have known about any internal turmoil. It is hard not to see that gathering and those games as a turning point for Guéhi, the period when he won Tuchel around. The young defender started in both and was especially impressive in the 5-0 win over Serbia, even contributing his maiden strike for his country.

The faith cuts both ways. Tuchel has this knack of bringing players in, of supporting them; it was a primary reasons why the FA appointed him. “In my view what the manager has done is show a lot of belief in every single one of us,” Guéhi comments. “Whenever we do get the opportunity, we want to show what we can do.”

Belief as the Theme

Trust is the focus – and not only because Guéhi is the son of a church minister and devoutly Christian. England face Wales in a friendly at Wembley on Thursday night before going to Riga to play Latvia in their next World Cup qualifier next Tuesday and Tuchel has shaped it all with his player choices.

It was, quite, the most remarkable demonstration of support in the players from the previous camp, those who had gone to Serbia and ignited Tuchel’s reign. Each of the 24 who are fit have been kept – so not Tino Livramento or Noni Madueke, who have serious injuries. Or Reece James, who was obliged to withdraw on Monday because of a less serious one.

The Manager’s Decisions and Team Unity

His decision to omit the fit-again Jude Bellingham has dominated the discourse – to the point that the omission of Phil Foden, who is likewise back to fitness, has been made as a bit of a footnote.

That which must not be overlooked – and what Tuchel does not want ignored – is how he has stood by Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who was a last-minute addition in September to replace the hurt Adam Wharton, despite Loftus-Cheek having lost his place in Milan’s Serie A side. Or how he kept Jarell Quansah, who stepped up for the unavailable John Stones in September, although the former now being fit and in the group. Though, Quansah himself was compelled to exit on Wednesday because of a knee injury.

This is how a coach builds a performance-based culture, how he builds connections. Tuchel loved the team supporting the team in Serbia, the unsung heroes on the sidelines, and he aimed to reward them. Bellingham or Loftus‑Cheek? Is that a question? Tuchel has effectively made it one for this session – and he sees an positive in the message he has delivered. Reputations will not sway him. Being a good teammate will.

Creating a Brotherhood

It was with perfect timing that Steven Gerrard spoke candidly in an discussion with his ex England teammate Rio Ferdinand on Tuesday, revealing how egotistical and divided their much-hyped talented era squad was. The ability was not in question; it was the atmosphere that held them back and Tuchel is set to get this right. He was talking about a “close-knit group” within the team before his initial match.

“There isn’t any tension between anybody,” Guéhi explains. “We are, as we say when we’re here, Team England. No matter has happened in the before or whatever is going on in the season, you leave that aside. You come here, these are your closest allies, your teammates, the players that you go to war with for as long as you’re here.

“The environment is consistently great when we’re here. The FA, past coaches and the squad themselves, the staff, have performed a excellent role at creating an spirit. Additionally, it depends on the players to actually buy into that. In my opinion every single person has bought into that brilliantly because I enjoy so much being here and I am sure the rest of the lads do, too.”

Looking Ahead

What Tuchel wants versus Wales is a performance that stirs the Wembley fans. Those against Albania and Latvia were solid sufficient; the wins positive, the first steps on the road to the World Cup next summer. But they were not thrillers. Will the side build on the cut and thrust they showed in Serbia? The last thoughts go to Guéhi.

“In my case, worrying is a natural feeling,” he states about not playing against Albania. “But I was selected in that squad. It means that the boss has chosen me for this opportunity and if I’m playing or not I’ll still support the team.

“So for me, fretting can be a waste of time. You don’t have many moments on this planet. I’d rather be excited and concentrated and help the teammates that I can – or help myself – by being the finest that I can be rather than stressing.”