In the case of Marc Guéhi, a fleeting spark of uncertainty was natural. The Crystal Palace defender had excelled for England at the European Championships, cementing himself as a key selection under Gareth Southgate, and his status remained intact after Lee Carsley’s spell in the first half of last season.
Enter Thomas Tuchel, and it is worth remembering that this was the coach who had sanctioned Guéhi’s sale from Stamford Bridge to Palace in the summer of 2021. Guéhi definitely remembered that. Did Tuchel rate him? When the fresh leadership brought another defender 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.
Tuchel started Guéhi in the next game, versus Latvia, also at Wembley, before he was unable to select him for his next gathering in June, which included the fixtures against Andorra on the road and Senegal in Nottingham. Guéhi had sustained an facial knock during Palace’s memorable FA Cup final win against Manchester City.
“I’d say it’s normal for every player to practically question that,” Guéhi says, looking back at his omission against Albania. “As you’d expect, new manager coming in … who knows what the squad’s going to be, who knows who’s going to feature?”
The thing Guéhi did next was what he typically does – stay completely in the moment, as composed as he could be. Which would benefit him during a dramatic end to the offseason window when the club chairman, Steve Parish, prevented his proposed move to Liverpool.
The following day, Guéhi reported with England for the games against Andorra at Villa Park and Serbia in Belgrade and he trained like a demon. Nobody would have been aware about any internal turmoil. It is hard not to see that gathering and those games as a pivotal moment for Guéhi, the time 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 contributing his first international goal.
The trust cuts both ways. Tuchel has this knack of drawing players in, of empowering them; it was a primary reasons why the FA appointed him. “In my view what the gaffer has done is demonstrate a lot of faith in each of us,” Guéhi comments. “Whenever we receive the chance, we aim to display what we can do.”
Belief as the Central Idea
Faith is the focus – and not only because Guéhi is the son of a pastor and deeply Christian. England face Wales in a exhibition at Wembley on Thursday night before going to Riga to face Latvia in their next World Cup qualifying tie next Tuesday and Tuchel has framed 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 tenure. Each of the 24 who are fit 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.
The Manager’s Decisions and Team Unity
Tuchel’s decision to overlook the returned Jude Bellingham has dominated the discourse – to the point that the exclusion of Phil Foden, who is likewise back to fitness, has been made as a something of a afterthought.
What must not be ignored – and what Tuchel hopes won’t be ignored – is how he has supported Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who was a last-minute addition in September to cover for the injured Adam Wharton, despite Loftus-Cheek having lost his place in Milan’s Serie A team. Or how he kept Jarell Quansah, who stepped up for the unavailable John Stones in September, despite the former now being fit and in the squad. However, Quansah himself was compelled to withdraw on Wednesday because of a knee injury.
Here is how a coach builds a meritocracy, how he forges bonds. Tuchel admired the team supporting the team in Serbia, the unsung heroes on the sidelines, and he aimed to reward them. Bellingham or Loftus‑Cheek? Is that a question? Tuchel has essentially made it one for this session – and he believes in an positive in the signal he has delivered. Past accolades will not influence him. Being a good teammate will.
Building a Strong Unit
Coinciding with good timing that Steven Gerrard opened up in an interview with his ex England teammate Rio Ferdinand on Tuesday, disclosing how self-centered and clique-ridden their so-called talented era squad was. The talent was not in question; it was the environment that held them back and Tuchel is set to get this right. He was talking about a “brotherhood” within the team before his first game.
“There isn’t any animosity between anybody,” Guéhi explains. “We are, as we put it when we’re here, Team England. Whatever has happened in the before or whatever is occurring in the season, you leave that behind. You come here, these become your best friends, your teammates, the players that you go to war with for as long as you’re here.
“The atmosphere is always great when we’re here. The football association, past coaches and the players themselves, the staff, have done a fantastic job at fostering an spirit. Then again, it comes down to the individuals to actually buy into that. In my opinion each member has accepted that superbly because I love immensely coming here and I know the rest of the players feel the same, too.”
Looking Ahead
What Tuchel wants versus Wales is a performance that stirs the Wembley crowd. Those versus Albania and Latvia were steady sufficient; the wins positive, the first steps on the path to the World Cup next year. But they were not pulse‑quickeners. Can the team continue the intensity they displayed in Serbia? The last thoughts go to Guéhi.
“For me, anxiety is a natural human emotion,” he says about being benched in Albania. “But I was selected in that group. It signifies that the manager has chosen me for this chance and whether I’m playing or not I’ll still back the team.
“So personally, fretting can be a waste of time. You only get so many days on this planet. I prefer to be excited and focused and help the people that I can – or improve personally – by striving to be the finest that I can be instead of worrying.”
