For Marc Guéhi, a fleeting spark of uncertainty was natural. The Crystal Palace defender had excelled for England at the European Championships, establishing himself as a key pick under the previous manager, and his status stayed intact following the caretaker coach’s spell in the first half of last season.
Then came the new boss, which is important to recall that this was the coach who had approved Guéhi’s transfer from Stamford Bridge to Palace in the summer of 2021. Guéhi certainly recalled that. Was Tuchel rate him? When the fresh leadership swept Dan Burn into the starting XI for his first game in charge, against Albania at Wembley in March, leaving Guéhi as an unused substitute, it wasn’t promising.
The manager started Guéhi in the next game, against Latvia, also at Wembley, before he was unable to pick him for his next gathering in June, which included the fixtures against Andorra on the road and Senegal in Nottingham. Guéhi had suffered an facial knock during his club’s memorable FA Cup final win against Manchester City.
“I’d say it’s natural for every player to practically doubt that,” Guéhi says, looking back at his omission against Albania. “You know, fresh coach coming in … it’s unclear what the team’s going to look like, it’s unknown who is going to play?”
The thing Guéhi then did was what he always does – remain completely in the present, as balanced as he could be. Which would serve him well during a dramatic end to the summer transfer window when the club chairman, Steve Parish, blocked his planned move to Liverpool.
The next day, Guéhi reported with England for the games versus Andorra at Villa Park and Serbia in Belgrade and he trained like a man possessed. Nobody would have known about any personal doubts. It is difficult not to see that gathering and those matches as a pivotal moment for Guéhi, the time when he won Tuchel around. The young defender was selected in each and was especially good in the five-nil win against Serbia, even adding his maiden strike for his country.
The faith works both ways. Tuchel has this ability of drawing players in, of supporting them; it was one of the main factors why the FA hired him. “In my view what the manager has achieved is show a lot of belief in each of us,” Guéhi comments. “Whenever we receive the opportunity, we want to show what we can do.”
Faith as the Theme
Faith is the focus – and not just because Guéhi is the child of a pastor and devoutly Christian. England face Wales in a friendly at Wembley on Thursday night before traveling to Riga to play Latvia in their next World Cup qualifying tie next Tuesday and Tuchel has shaped it all with his squad selection.
It was, quite, the most stunning show of support 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 forced to pull out on Monday because of a more minor one.
The Manager’s Choices and Team Dynamics
His choice to omit the returned Jude Bellingham has dominated the discourse – to the extent that the exclusion of Phil Foden, who is likewise back to fitness, has been rendered as a bit of a afterthought.
What should not be ignored – and what Tuchel hopes won’t be missed – is how he has stood by Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who was a last-minute addition in September to cover for the hurt Adam Wharton, despite Loftus-Cheek having lost his place in Milan’s Serie A side. Or how he kept Jarell Quansah, who came in for the injured John Stones in September, despite the latter now being fit and in the group. However, Quansah himself was compelled to exit on Wednesday because of a knee injury.
Here is how a manager builds a performance-based culture, how he forges bonds. Tuchel loved the team supporting the team in Serbia, the unheralded contributors on the bench, and he wanted to reward them. Bellingham or Loftus‑Cheek? Is that a question? Tuchel has effectively made it one for this camp – and he sees an upside in the signal he has delivered. Reputations will not sway him. Acting as a supportive colleague will.
Creating a Strong Unit
Coinciding with good timing that Steven Gerrard spoke candidly in an discussion with his ex England teammate Rio Ferdinand on Tuesday, revealing how self-centered and clique-ridden their much-hyped talented era team was. The ability was not in doubt; it was the atmosphere that limited them and Tuchel is determined to fix this. He was speaking about a “brotherhood” within the squad before his initial match.
“There isn’t any animosity between anyone,” Guéhi says. “We are, as we put it when we’re here, the England squad. No matter has gone on in the past or whatever is going on in the campaign, you leave that behind. You arrive here, these are your best friends, your teammates, the players that you go to war with for as long as you’re here.
“The environment is always positive when we’re here. The football association, previous managers and the squad themselves, the backroom team, have performed a fantastic role at fostering an atmosphere. Then again, it depends on the players to actually buy into that. In my opinion every single person has accepted that superbly because I love so much being here and I know the others of the lads do, too.”
Future Focus
What Tuchel expects against Wales is a showing that excites the Wembley crowd. Those against Albania and Latvia were solid sufficient; the wins positive, the initial progress on the path to the World Cup next year. But they were not thrillers. Can the side continue the intensity they showed in Serbia? The last thoughts go to Guéhi.
“For me, anxiety is a natural human emotion,” he states about being benched against Albania. “But I was selected in that group. It signifies that the boss has chosen me for this opportunity and whether I’m starting or not I’ll always support the team.
“So personally, worrying can be a futile effort. You only get so many moments on this planet. I prefer to be excited and concentrated and help the teammates that I can – or help myself – by being the best that I can be rather than stressing.”
