For Marc Guéhi, the flicker of self-doubt was understandable. The Crystal Palace centre‑half had starred for England at Euro 2024, a first-choice selection under Gareth Southgate, and his status was intact at the end of Lee Carsleyâ€s caretaker spell in the first half of last season.
Enter Thomas Tuchel and it is worth remembering that this was the manager who had sanctioned Guéhiâ€s sale from Chelsea to Palace in the summer of 2021. Guéhi certainly remembered that. Did Tuchel fancy him? When the new broom swept Dan Burn into the starting XI for his first game in charge, against Albania at Wembley in March, leaving Guéhi as an unused substitute, it did not look great.
Tuchel started Guéhi in the next game, against Latvia, also at Wembley, before he was unable to pick him for his second camp in June, which took in the matches against Andorra away and Senegal in Nottingham. Guéhi had sustained an eye injury during Palaceâ€s historic FA Cup final victory against Manchester City.
“Iâ€d say itâ€s natural for every player to almost question that,†Guéhi says, reflecting on his absence against Albania. “You know, new manager coming in … who knows what the teamâ€s going to look like, who knows whoâ€s going to play?â€
What Guéhi did next was what he always does – stay firmly in the moment, as balanced as possible. Which would serve him well during a dramatic end to the summer transfer window when the Palace chair, Steve Parish, blocked his proposed 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 demon. Nobody would have known about any internal turmoil. It is hard not to see that camp and those games as a turning point for Guéhi, the time when he won Tuchel over. The 25-year-old started in both and was especially good in the 5-0 win against 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 one of the main reasons why the Football Association hired him. “I think what the manager has done is show a lot of faith in every single one of us,†Guéhi says. “Any time we do get the opportunity, we want to show what we can do.â€
Englandâ€s Marc Guéhi sprints during a training session at St Georgeâ€s Park. Photograph: Bradley Collyer/PA
Faith is the theme – and not only because Guéhi is the son of a church minister and devoutly Christian. England face Wales in a friendly at Wembley on Thursday night before going to Riga to play Latvia in their sixth World Cup qualifying tie next Tuesday and Tuchel has framed it all with his squad selection.
It was, simply, the most stunning demonstration of confidence in the players from the previous get‑together, those who had gone to Serbia and ignited Tuchelâ€s tenure. Every one 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 forced to withdraw on Monday because of a more minor one.
Tuchelâ€s decision to overlook the fit-again Jude Bellingham has dominated the discourse – to the extent that the exclusion of Phil Foden, who is also back to fitness, has been rendered as a bit of a footnote.
What should not be ignored – and what Tuchel does not want to be ignored – is how he has stood by Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who was a late call-up in September to replace the injured Adam Wharton, despite Loftus-Cheek having lost his place in Milanâ€s Serie A team. Or how he retained Jarell Quansah, who came in for the injured John Stones in September, despite the latter now being OK and in the group. However, Quansah himself was forced to withdraw on Wednesday because of a knee injury.
This is how a manager creates a meritocracy, how he builds bonds. Tuchel loved the team behind the team in Serbia, the unsung heroes on the bench, and he wanted to reward them. Bellingham or Loftus‑Cheek? Is it even a question? Tuchel has essentially made it one for this camp – and he sees an upside in the message he has sent. Reputations will not sway him. Being a good teammate will.
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It was with good timing that Steven Gerrard opened up in an interview with his former England colleague Rio Ferdinand on Tuesday, disclosing how egotistical and clique-ridden their so-called golden generation team was. The talent was not in doubt; it was the environment that held them back and Tuchel is determined to get this right. He was talking about a “brotherhood†within the squad before his first game.
“There isnâ€t any animosity between anyone,†Guéhi says. “We are, as we put it when weâ€re here, Team England. Whatever has gone on in the past or whatever is going on in the season, you leave that behind. You come here, these are your best friends, your teammates, the guys that you go to war with for however long youâ€re here.
Marc Guéhi was excellent against Serbia, and scored his first England goal. Photograph: Sebastian Frej/Getty Images
“The atmosphere is always great when weâ€re here. The FA, previous managers and the players themselves, the staff, have done a fantastic job at creating an atmosphere. Then again, it comes down to the players to actually buy into that. I think every single person has bought into that brilliantly because I enjoy so much coming here and I know the rest of the lads do, too.â€
What Tuchel wants against Wales is a performance that stirs the Wembley crowd. Those against Albania and Latvia were solid enough; the wins welcome, the first steps on the road to the World Cup next summer. But they were not pulse‑quickeners. Can the team build on the cut and thrust they showed in Serbia? The final words go to Guéhi. “For me, worrying is a natural human emotion,†he says about not playing against Albania. “But I was picked in that squad. It means that the manager has chosen me for this opportunity and whether Iâ€m playing or not Iâ€ll still support the team.
“So for me, worrying can be a waste of time. You donâ€t have many days on this earth. Iâ€d rather be excited and focused and help the people that I can – or help myself – by being the best that I can be instead of worrying.â€
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