🔗 Share this article

In the case of Marc Guéhi, a fleeting spark of self-doubt was natural. The Crystal Palace centre‑half had shone for England at Euro 2024, cementing himself as a first-choice selection under the previous manager, and his status stayed intact following Lee Carsley’s tenure in the first half of last season.

Then came the new boss, and it is worth remembering that this was the coach who had approved Guéhi’s sale from Chelsea to Palace in the summer of 2021. Guéhi definitely remembered that. Did Tuchel fancy 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 unused substitute, it wasn’t great.

The manager started Guéhi in the next game, against Latvia, again at Wembley, before he was unable to select him for his next gathering in June, which took in the fixtures against Andorra away and Senegal in Nottingham. Guéhi had suffered an facial knock during his club’s historic FA Cup final victory over Manchester City.

“In my opinion it’s normal for every player to almost doubt that,” Guéhi says, looking back at his absence from Albania. “You know, new manager arriving … who knows what the team’s going to be, who knows who is going to play?”

The thing Guéhi then did was exactly what he always does – remain completely in the moment, as composed as possible. This approach would serve him well during a hectic end to the summer transfer window when the Palace chair, Steve Parish, prevented his proposed transfer to Liverpool.

The following day, Guéhi joined up with England for the games versus Andorra at Villa Park and Serbia in Belgrade and he trained like a demon. Nobody would have been aware about any personal doubts. It is difficult not to see that camp and those matches as a pivotal moment for Guéhi, the period when he earned Tuchel around. The young defender was selected in both and was particularly impressive in the 5-0 win over Serbia, even contributing his maiden strike for his country.

The trust works both ways. Tuchel has this knack of bringing players in, of supporting them; it was a primary factors 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. “Any time we receive the opportunity, we aim to display what we can achieve.”

Belief as the Central Idea

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

It was, quite, the most stunning show of confidence in the players from the last get‑together, those who had gone to Serbia and ignited Tuchel’s tenure. Each of the 24 who are fit have been retained – so excluding 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.

Tuchel’s Decisions and Team Unity

Tuchel’s decision to overlook the fit-again Jude Bellingham has led the discourse – to the point that the omission of Phil Foden, who is also back to fitness, has been made as a something of a footnote.

That which must not be ignored – and what Tuchel hopes won’t be missed – is how he has supported Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who was a late call-up in September to cover for the hurt Adam Wharton, despite Loftus-Cheek having surrendered his place in Milan’s Serie A side. Or how he kept Jarell Quansah, who came in for the unavailable John Stones in September, although the latter now being fit and in the group. Though, Quansah himself was compelled to withdraw on Wednesday because of a knee injury.

This is how a manager creates a performance-based culture, how he forges bonds. Tuchel admired the unit supporting the team in Serbia, the unsung heroes on the sidelines, and he wanted to reward them. Bellingham or Loftus‑Cheek? Is that a question? Tuchel has essentially made it one for this session – and he sees an upside in the signal he has sent. Reputations will not influence him. Being a good teammate will.

Creating a Strong Unit

It was with good timing that Steven Gerrard opened up in an discussion with his former England teammate Rio Ferdinand on Tuesday, disclosing how self-centered and clique-ridden their so-called golden generation squad was. The talent was not in doubt; it was the atmosphere that held them back and Tuchel is set to fix this. He was speaking about a “brotherhood” within the team before his initial match.

“There’s any tension between anybody,” Guéhi says. “We are, as we put it when we’re here, the England squad. No matter has happened in the before or whatever is occurring in the campaign, you put that behind. You arrive here, these are your best friends, your colleagues, the guys that you battle 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 backroom team, have performed a excellent job at creating an spirit. Then again, it depends on the players to truly embrace that. In my opinion each member has bought into that brilliantly because I enjoy immensely being here and I know the rest of the lads feel the same, too.”

Future Focus

That which Tuchel wants against Wales is a performance that excites the Wembley crowd. Those versus Albania and Latvia were solid sufficient; the victories positive, the first steps on the road to the World Cup next year. But they were not thrillers. Will the team build on the cut and thrust they showed in Serbia? The last thoughts belong to Guéhi.

“In my case, anxiety is a natural human emotion,” he says about being benched against Albania. “But I was selected in that squad. It signifies that the boss has opted for me for this chance and if I’m starting or not I’ll always back the team.

“So for me, fretting can be a waste of time. You don’t have many days on this earth. I’d rather be positive and concentrated and help the teammates that I can – or help myself – by striving to be the finest that I can be instead of stressing.”