For Marc Guéhi, a momentary spark of self-doubt was natural. The Crystal Palace centre‑half had shone for England at Euro 2024, establishing himself as a key selection under the previous manager, and his status remained intact after the caretaker coach’s tenure in the initial part of last season.
Then came Thomas Tuchel, which is important to recall that this was the coach who had approved Guéhi’s transfer from Stamford Bridge to Palace in the summer of 2021. Guéhi definitely remembered that. Did Tuchel rate him? When the fresh leadership brought Dan Burn into the lineup for his first game in charge, against Albania at Wembley in March, leaving Guéhi as an unused substitute, it wasn’t great.
Tuchel started Guéhi in the following game, against Latvia, also at Wembley, before he was not able to select him for his second camp in June, which included the fixtures versus Andorra away and Senegal in Nottingham. Guéhi had suffered an facial knock during his club’s historic FA Cup final win over Manchester City.
“I’d say it’s normal for every player to practically doubt that,” Guéhi states, looking back at his absence against Albania. “You know, new manager arriving … it’s unclear what the team’s going to look like, who knows who’s going to play?”
The thing Guéhi then did was what he always does – remain completely in the present, as balanced as he could be. This approach would serve him well during a hectic end to the offseason window when the Palace chair, Steve Parish, prevented his proposed transfer to Liverpool.
The next day, Guéhi joined up with England for the games against Andorra at Villa Park and Serbia in Belgrade and he worked like a man possessed. Nobody would have been aware about any internal turmoil. It is difficult not to see that gathering and those games as a turning point for Guéhi, the time when he won Tuchel over. The young defender started in each and was especially impressive in the five-nil win over Serbia, even contributing his maiden strike for his country.
The faith works both ways. Tuchel has this knack of bringing players in, of supporting them; it was one of the main reasons why the Football Association appointed him. “I think what the manager has done is show a lot of belief in every single one of us,” Guéhi comments. “Any time we receive the chance, we want to show what we can do.”
Belief as the Theme
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 traveling 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 remarkable show of support in the players from the previous get‑together, those who had traveled to Serbia and ignited Tuchel’s tenure. Each of the 24 who are fit 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 more minor one.
The Manager’s Choices and Team Unity
Tuchel’s choice to overlook the returned Jude Bellingham has dominated the conversation – to the extent that the exclusion of Phil Foden, who is likewise fully recovered, has been made as a something of a afterthought.
That which must not be ignored – and what Tuchel hopes won’t be missed – is how he has supported Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who was a last-minute addition in September to replace the injured Adam Wharton, even though Loftus-Cheek having lost his spot in Milan’s Serie A team. Or how he kept Jarell Quansah, who came in for the injured 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 knee injury.
This is how a manager builds a meritocracy, how he builds connections. Tuchel loved the team supporting 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 turned it into one for this camp – and he believes in an upside in the signal he has sent. Reputations will not sway him. Being a supportive colleague will.
Building a Strong Unit
Coinciding with perfect timing that Steven Gerrard spoke candidly in an discussion with his ex England colleague Rio Ferdinand on Tuesday, revealing how self-centered and divided their so-called talented era team was. The ability was not in question; it was the atmosphere that limited them and Tuchel is set to get this right. He was speaking about a “close-knit group” within the team before his first game.
“There isn’t any animosity between anyone,” Guéhi says. “We are, as we put it when we’re here, the England squad. Whatever has gone on in the before or what is going on in the campaign, you leave that aside. You come here, these become your best friends, your colleagues, the players that you go to war with for as long as you’re here.
“The environment is always positive when we’re here. The FA, past coaches and the squad themselves, the staff, have performed a fantastic role at creating an atmosphere. Additionally, it depends on the players to actually embrace that. I think every single person has bought into that superbly because I enjoy so much being here and I know the others of the lads feel the same, too.”
Future Focus
What Tuchel expects versus Wales is a performance that stirs the Wembley crowd. Those versus 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. Will the side continue the cut and thrust they displayed in Serbia? The final words go to Guéhi.
“For me, worrying is a natural feeling,” he says about not playing against Albania. “But I was selected in that group. It means that the manager has opted for me for this opportunity and whether I’m starting or not I’ll still back the team.
“So for me, fretting can be a futile effort. You only get so many days on this planet. I’d rather be excited and focused and assist the teammates that I can – or help myself – by striving to be the finest that I can be rather than stressing.”
