🔗 Share this article

In the case of Marc Guéhi, a fleeting flicker of self-doubt was natural. The Selhurst Park defender had shone for England at the European Championships, cementing himself as a first-choice pick under the previous manager, and his status stayed secure following Lee Carsley’s tenure in the first half of last season.

Enter the new boss, which is important to recall that this was the coach who had approved Guéhi’s sale from Chelsea to Crystal Palace in the offseason of 2021. Guéhi certainly remembered that. Was Tuchel rate him? When the new broom brought Dan Burn into the lineup for his first game in charge, versus Albania at Wembley in March, with Guéhi as an uninvolved reserve, it did not look promising.

The manager started Guéhi in the following game, against Latvia, again at Wembley, before he was unable to select him for his second camp in June, which took in the matches against Andorra on the road and Senegal in Nottingham. Guéhi had suffered an facial knock during Palace’s historic FA Cup final victory over Manchester City.

“In my opinion it’s normal for every player to almost question that,” Guéhi states, looking back at his omission against Albania. “As you’d expect, fresh coach coming in … who knows what the squad’s going to be, who knows who is going to feature?”

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

The next day, Guéhi reported with England for the matches against Andorra at Villa Park and Serbia in Belgrade and he trained like a demon. Nobody would have known about any personal doubts. It is hard not to see that gathering and those matches as a turning point for Guéhi, the period when he won Tuchel over. The 25-year-old was selected in each and was particularly good in the five-nil win over Serbia, even contributing his maiden strike for his country.

The trust cuts both ways. Tuchel has this ability of bringing players in, of empowering them; it was a primary 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. “Any time we do get the opportunity, we want to display what we can achieve.”

Faith as the Central Idea

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

It was, simply, the most stunning demonstration of support in the players from the last camp, those who had gone to Serbia and sparked Tuchel’s tenure. Every one of the 24 who are available have been kept – 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 Choices and Team Unity

Tuchel’s decision to omit the returned Jude Bellingham has led the conversation – to the point that the exclusion of Phil Foden, who is likewise back to fitness, has been made as a bit of a footnote.

What should not be ignored – and what Tuchel does not want ignored – is how he has supported Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who was a late call-up in September to cover for 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 stepped up for the unavailable John Stones in September, although the former now being fit and in the squad. Though, Quansah himself was compelled to withdraw on Wednesday because of a knock.

Here is how a coach creates a meritocracy, how he builds bonds. Tuchel loved the unit behind the team in Serbia, the unheralded contributors on the bench, and he wanted to recognize them. Bellingham or Loftus‑Cheek? Is it even a debate? Tuchel has effectively made it one for this camp – and he believes in an upside in the message he has sent. Reputations will not sway him. Being a supportive colleague will.

Building a Strong Unit

Coinciding with perfect timing that Steven Gerrard opened up in an interview with his former England colleague Rio Ferdinand on Tuesday, disclosing how egotistical and divided their so-called golden generation team was. The talent was not in question; it was the environment that limited them and Tuchel is set to fix this. He was speaking about a “brotherhood” within the squad before his initial match.

“There isn’t any animosity between anybody,” Guéhi says. “We are, as we put it when we’re here, Team England. Whatever has gone on in the before or what is going on in the campaign, you put that aside. You come here, these are your closest allies, your colleagues, the players that you go to war with for however long you’re here.

“The atmosphere is consistently great when we’re here. The FA, previous managers and the squad themselves, the staff, have performed a fantastic role at fostering an spirit. Then again, it depends on the individuals to actually embrace that. I think each member has accepted that brilliantly because I love immensely being here and I know the others of the lads feel the same, too.”

Future Focus

What Tuchel wants versus Wales is a performance that excites the Wembley crowd. Those versus Albania and Latvia were solid enough; the wins positive, the initial progress on the path to the World Cup next year. But they were not pulse‑quickeners. Will the side continue the cut and thrust they showed in Serbia? The final words go to Guéhi.

“For me, worrying is a natural human emotion,” he states about not playing against Albania. “But I was picked in that group. It means that the manager has chosen me for this opportunity and whether I’m starting or not I’ll always back the team.

“So personally, fretting can be a waste of time. You don’t have many moments on this planet. I’d rather be excited and focused and help the people that I can – or help myself – by striving to be the finest that I can be instead of stressing.”