Tuchel sparks controversy

Tuchel prioritizes helping England perform at their best. Photo: Reuters .

The German strategist affirmed that his biggest goal in this training session is to raise the standard of play, especially before the match against Latvia in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in the early morning of March 25. According to Tuchel, rotating players because of "favoring" them not only sends the wrong message to the team, but also goes against the spirit of competition and professionalism.

Despite agreeing with Pep Guardiola in the past, particularly when he was in charge of Chelsea, Tuchel said he was giving his full priority to the national team. Just as Guardiola was unhappy when John Stones was injured after playing two friendly matches for the Three Lions last year, Tuchel understands that the relationship between club and country is always sensitive. But he insists there are no special privileges.

“Arsenal started Declan Rice in the second leg against PSV despite winning 7-1 in the first leg. So I don't think clubs are too concerned about helping England players recover," Tuchel was quoted by the Guardian . "I have no reason to think otherwise. We will monitor their fitness, contact the club, but we will not do anything different. We are not taking any risks, but we are not doing anything unprofessional."

Coach Tuchel confirmed that he will not rotate the squad.

Tuchel also stressed that responsibility for the players is the most important factor: "I don't want anyone to get injured. I want them to be healthy to play the Champions League quarter-finals. We take care of them, and so do the clubs. But above all, we are all for the players."

The bigger headache for Tuchel is finding the right balance in attack. With a host of stars playing in the No. 10 position, he will have to make some tough choices and some names will even be left out if England qualify for the World Cup.

"You can't have too many number 10s in the same squad," he admitted. "It's not just about winning against Latvia, it's about how to win. The way we play, the standard of play, and controlling the game are what I care about. If I have to drop a few prominent names to find the most suitable team, I will do so."

According to the Guardian , Tuchel came to England not only to keep his seat, but to change the way of thinking, the way of playing and the level. And he will do it in his own way, decisively, frankly and uncompromisingly.

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