In the case of Marc Guéhi, a momentary spark of uncertainty was understandable. The Selhurst Park defender had excelled for England at Euro 2024, establishing himself as a first-choice selection under the previous manager, and his standing stayed secure after the caretaker coach’s spell in the initial part of last season.
Enter the new boss, and it is worth remembering that this was the coach who had approved Guéhi’s transfer from Chelsea to Palace in the offseason of 2021. Guéhi definitely recalled that. Was Tuchel rate him? When the fresh leadership brought another defender into the starting XI for his debut in charge, against Albania at Wembley in March, with Guéhi as an uninvolved reserve, it wasn’t great.
The manager selected Guéhi in the next game, versus Latvia, again at Wembley, before he was not able to pick him for his next gathering in June, which took in the matches versus Andorra on the road and Senegal in Nottingham. Guéhi had sustained an eye injury during Palace’s historic FA Cup final victory over Manchester City.
“I’d say it’s normal for every player to practically question that,” Guéhi states, looking back at his omission against Albania. “You know, fresh coach arriving … who knows what the squad’s going to be, who knows who is going to play?”
The thing Guéhi did next was what he typically does – stay completely in the present, as composed as possible. This approach would benefit him during a hectic end to the offseason window when the Palace chair, Steve Parish, blocked his planned transfer to Liverpool.
The following day, Guéhi joined up with England for the games against 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 hard not to see that gathering 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 especially impressive in the five-nil win over Serbia, even contributing his first international goal.
The faith cuts both ways. Tuchel has this ability of drawing players in, of supporting them; it was a primary factors why the Football Association appointed him. “In my view what the manager has achieved is show a lot of faith in each of us,” Guéhi says. “Whenever we do get the opportunity, we aim to display what we can do.”
Belief as the Theme
Faith is the theme – and not just because Guéhi is the son of a church minister and deeply Christian. England meet Wales in a friendly at Wembley on Thursday night before going to Riga to play Latvia in their next World Cup qualifier next Tuesday and Tuchel has shaped it all with his player choices.
It was, simply, the most remarkable demonstration of support in the players from the last get‑together, those who had traveled to Serbia and ignited Tuchel’s reign. Each of the 24 who are available have been retained – so not Tino Livramento or Noni Madueke, who have serious injuries. Or Reece James, who was obliged to pull out on Monday because of a less serious one.
Tuchel’s Choices and Team Unity
His decision to omit the returned Jude Bellingham has dominated the conversation – to the point that the exclusion of Phil Foden, who is likewise back to fitness, has been rendered as a something of a footnote.
That which should 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 injured Adam Wharton, even though Loftus-Cheek having surrendered his spot in Milan’s Serie A side. Or how he kept Jarell Quansah, who stepped up for the unavailable John Stones in September, despite the latter now being OK and in the group. Though, Quansah himself was forced to exit on Wednesday because of a knee injury.
This is how a manager builds a meritocracy, how he forges connections. Tuchel loved the unit behind the team in Serbia, the unheralded contributors on the sidelines, and he aimed to recognize them. Bellingham or Loftus‑Cheek? Is it even a question? Tuchel has essentially turned it into one for this session – and he sees an positive in the message he has delivered. Past accolades will not sway him. Being a good teammate will.
Creating a Strong Unit
It was with perfect timing that Steven Gerrard spoke candidly in an discussion with his former England colleague Rio Ferdinand on Tuesday, revealing how egotistical and divided their much-hyped golden generation 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 talking about a “close-knit group” within the squad before his first game.
“There isn’t any tension between anyone,” Guéhi explains. “We are, as we put it when we’re here, the England squad. Whatever has happened in the past or what is occurring in the campaign, you leave that behind. You arrive here, these are your closest allies, your colleagues, the players that you battle 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 done a fantastic role at creating an atmosphere. Then again, it comes down to the players to truly embrace that. I think each member has bought into that brilliantly because I enjoy so much being here and I am sure the others of the players feel the same, too.”
Future Focus
What Tuchel expects against Wales is a showing that stirs the Wembley crowd. Those versus Albania and Latvia were steady sufficient; the victories positive, the first steps on the path to the World Cup next summer. But they were not thrillers. Will the side build on the intensity they displayed in Serbia? The final words belong to Guéhi.
“For me, anxiety is a natural feeling,” he says about not playing in Albania. “But I was selected in that squad. It signifies that the manager has chosen me for this chance and if I’m playing or not I’ll still back the team.
“So for me, worrying can be a waste of time. You only get so many days on this planet. I’d rather be positive and concentrated and assist the people that I can – or help myself – by being the best that I can be instead of worrying.”
