In the case of Marc Guéhi, a fleeting spark of uncertainty was understandable. The Selhurst Park defender had excelled for England at the European Championships, cementing himself as a key selection under Gareth Southgate, and his status stayed secure following the caretaker coach’s spell in the initial part of last season.
Enter the new boss, and it is important to recall that this was the manager who had sanctioned Guéhi’s transfer from Stamford Bridge to Palace in the offseason of 2021. Guéhi definitely recalled that. Was Tuchel rate him? When the fresh leadership swept Dan Burn into the starting XI for his first game in charge, versus Albania at Wembley in March, with Guéhi as an uninvolved reserve, it did not look great.
Tuchel selected Guéhi in the following game, against Latvia, again at Wembley, before he was not able to select him for his second camp in June, which included the fixtures versus Andorra away and Senegal in Nottingham. Guéhi had sustained an facial knock during his club’s historic FA Cup final win over Manchester City.
“In my opinion it’s normal for any footballer to almost doubt that,” Guéhi states, looking back at his absence from Albania. “You know, new manager coming in … who knows what the team’s going to be, who knows who’s going to play?”
The thing Guéhi did next was exactly what he typically does – remain firmly in the moment, as balanced as possible. This approach would benefit him during a dramatic end to the summer transfer window when the Palace chair, Steve Parish, blocked his planned move to Liverpool.
The following day, Guéhi reported with England for the games against Andorra at Villa Park and Serbia in Belgrade and he worked like a demon. Not a soul would have known about any personal doubts. It is difficult not to see that gathering and those matches as a turning point for Guéhi, the period when he earned Tuchel over. The 25-year-old was selected in each and was especially good in the 5-0 win over Serbia, even adding 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 hired him. “I think what the gaffer has done is show a lot of belief in every single one of us,” Guéhi says. “Whenever we receive the opportunity, we want to display what we can achieve.”
Belief as the Central Idea
Faith is the focus – and not just because Guéhi is the son of a church minister and deeply Christian. England face Wales in a exhibition at Wembley on Thursday night before going to Riga to face Latvia in their sixth World Cup qualifier next Tuesday and Tuchel has framed it all with his player choices.
It was, simply, the most stunning show of support in the players from the previous get‑together, those who had traveled to Serbia and sparked Tuchel’s tenure. Every one of the 24 who are fit have been kept – 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 Squad Unity
His choice to omit the fit-again Jude Bellingham has dominated the conversation – to the point that the exclusion of Phil Foden, who is also back to fitness, has been made as a bit of a footnote.
What must not be ignored – and what Tuchel hopes won’t be missed – is how he has stood by Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who was a late call-up in September to replace the hurt Adam Wharton, even though Loftus-Cheek having lost his spot in Milan’s Serie A team. Or how he retained Jarell Quansah, who came in for the unavailable John Stones in September, despite the former now being fit and in the squad. Though, Quansah himself was compelled to exit on Wednesday because of a knock.
Here is how a coach creates a performance-based culture, how he forges connections. Tuchel loved the team supporting the team in Serbia, the unsung heroes on the sidelines, and he wanted to recognize them. Bellingham or Loftus‑Cheek? Is it even a debate? Tuchel has essentially made it one for this camp – and he sees an upside in the message he has delivered. Reputations will not sway him. Being a good teammate will.
Creating a Brotherhood
Coinciding with good timing that Steven Gerrard opened up in an interview with his former England colleague Rio Ferdinand on Tuesday, disclosing how self-centered and divided their so-called talented era team was. The ability was not in question; it was the environment that held them back and Tuchel is set to fix this. He was speaking about a “brotherhood” within the team before his first game.
“There isn’t any animosity between anyone,” Guéhi explains. “We are, as we say when we’re here, Team England. Whatever has gone on in the past or what is going on in the campaign, you leave that behind. You come here, these become your closest allies, your colleagues, the players that you go to war with for as long as you’re here.
“The atmosphere is always positive when we’re here. The football association, past coaches and the players themselves, the backroom team, have performed a fantastic job at creating an atmosphere. Additionally, it depends on the individuals to actually embrace that. I think each member has accepted that brilliantly because I enjoy immensely being here and I know the others of the players feel the same, too.”
Future Focus
That which Tuchel wants versus Wales is a performance that stirs the Wembley fans. Those versus Albania and Latvia were steady sufficient; the victories welcome, the first steps on the road to the World Cup next year. But they were not thrillers. Will the side continue the intensity they showed in Serbia? The final words go to Guéhi.
“In my case, worrying is a natural feeling,” he states about being benched against Albania. “But I was picked in that squad. It signifies that the manager has opted for me for this opportunity and if I’m playing 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 planet. I prefer to be excited and concentrated and assist the people that I can – or help myself – by striving to be the finest that I can be rather than worrying.”
