🔗 Share this article

In the case of Marc Guéhi, a fleeting spark of uncertainty was natural. The Crystal Palace centre‑half had excelled for England at the European Championships, establishing himself as a first-choice pick under Gareth Southgate, and his status remained intact following the caretaker coach’s spell in the initial part of last season.

Then came Thomas Tuchel, which is worth remembering that this was the manager who had sanctioned Guéhi’s sale from Stamford Bridge to Crystal Palace in the offseason of 2021. Guéhi definitely recalled that. Was Tuchel fancy him? When the new broom brought 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 wasn’t great.

Tuchel selected Guéhi in the following game, versus Latvia, again at Wembley, before he was not able to pick him for his second camp in June, which took in the fixtures against Andorra on the road and Senegal in Nottingham. Guéhi had suffered an facial knock during his club’s memorable FA Cup final victory against Manchester City.

“I’d say it’s normal for any footballer to practically question that,” Guéhi says, looking back at his omission against Albania. “As you’d expect, fresh coach arriving … it’s unclear what the squad’s going to be, who knows who is going to feature?”

The thing Guéhi then did was what he typically does – stay completely in the moment, as composed as possible. This approach would benefit him during a dramatic end to the offseason window when the club chairman, Steve Parish, prevented his planned move to Liverpool.

The next day, Guéhi joined up with England for the matches against Andorra at Villa Park and Serbia in Belgrade and he trained like a man possessed. Not a soul would have been aware about any personal doubts. It is difficult not to see that camp and those matches as a pivotal moment for Guéhi, the time when he earned Tuchel over. The young defender started in each and was particularly impressive in the five-nil win over Serbia, even contributing his first international goal.

The trust works both ways. Tuchel has this ability of drawing players in, of empowering them; it was a primary factors why the Football Association hired him. “In my view what the gaffer has done is demonstrate a lot of faith in every single one of us,” Guéhi comments. “Whenever we receive the opportunity, we want to show what we can achieve.”

Faith as the Central Idea

Faith is the focus – and not just because Guéhi is the child of a pastor and devoutly Christian. England meet Wales in a friendly at Wembley on Thursday night before going to Riga to play Latvia in their sixth World Cup qualifier next Tuesday and Tuchel has shaped it all with his squad selection.

It was, quite, the most stunning demonstration of support in the players from the previous get‑together, those who had gone to Serbia and sparked Tuchel’s reign. Each of the 24 who are fit have been retained – so excluding Tino Livramento or Noni Madueke, who have serious injuries. Or Reece James, who was obliged to pull out on Monday because of a more minor one.

The Manager’s Decisions and Team Unity

Tuchel’s choice to omit the returned Jude Bellingham has led the conversation – to the point that the omission of Phil Foden, who is likewise back to fitness, has been rendered as a something of a afterthought.

That which must not be ignored – and what Tuchel does not want missed – 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 surrendered his place in Milan’s Serie A side. 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 withdraw on Wednesday because of a knock.

This is how a manager creates a meritocracy, how he forges bonds. Tuchel admired the unit supporting the team in Serbia, the unheralded contributors on the bench, and he aimed to recognize them. Bellingham or Loftus‑Cheek? Is that a debate? Tuchel has essentially made it one for this camp – and he sees an positive in the message he has delivered. Reputations will not sway him. Acting as a supportive colleague will.

Creating a Strong Unit

Coinciding with perfect timing that Steven Gerrard spoke candidly in an interview with his ex England colleague Rio Ferdinand on Tuesday, disclosing how self-centered and clique-ridden their much-hyped golden generation team was. The talent was not in doubt; it was the atmosphere that held them back and Tuchel is set to get this right. He was speaking about a “close-knit group” within the squad before his initial match.

“There’s any animosity between anybody,” Guéhi explains. “We are, as we say when we’re here, the England squad. No matter has happened in the before or what is occurring in the campaign, you leave that aside. You come here, these become your closest allies, your teammates, the players that you battle with for however long you’re here.

“The atmosphere is consistently positive when we’re here. The football association, past coaches and the squad themselves, the staff, have performed a fantastic job at creating an atmosphere. Then again, it depends on the individuals to truly embrace that. In my opinion every single person has accepted that superbly because I love immensely being here and I am sure the rest of the lads do, too.”

Future Focus

What Tuchel expects against Wales is a showing that stirs the Wembley crowd. Those against Albania and Latvia were solid sufficient; the wins positive, the first steps on the path to the World Cup next year. But they were not pulse‑quickeners. Will the team continue the cut and thrust they displayed in Serbia? The final words belong to Guéhi.

“For me, anxiety is a natural human emotion,” he says about not playing against Albania. “But I was picked in that squad. It signifies that the boss has chosen me for this chance and if I’m playing or not I’ll still back the team.

“So personally, worrying can be a futile effort. You don’t have many days on this earth. I prefer to be positive and focused and assist the people that I can – or improve personally – by striving to be the best that I can be rather than worrying.”