Former England and Chelsea captain John Terry has voiced concerns about England manager Thomas Tuchel's management style, particularly his public criticism of defender Djed Spence. Terry suggested that Tuchel may be targeting less established players like Spence with harsh feedback, a tactic he believes the manager would hesitate to use with more prominent stars.
Tuchel has been observed to repeatedly criticize Spence during matches and training sessions, yet continues to select the Tottenham full-back for the squad. Terry finds this approach to be "mixed messaging" and expressed worry about the potential implications for player morale and squad dynamics.
"I'm a little bit worried," Terry stated in an interview on Piers Morgan's World Cup Uncensored show. "I really like Tuchel, and I think he's a top and elite manager, but when I see this, I'm like, if that's Trent [Alexander-Arnold], I'm not sure he's behaving like that; I'm not sure he's talking to Trent like that."
Terry theorized that Tuchel's willingness to publicly admonish Spence might influence his selection decisions for players who are less experienced or new to the squad, suggesting it is an "intriguing theory" as to why certain players are chosen over others, such as Trent Alexander-Arnold, Cole Palmer, and Phil Foden, who were left out for reasons of squad harmony.
Spence has featured in all four of England's World Cup matches to date, starting against Ghana and DR Congo. He was substituted in the last-32 match against DR Congo after struggling defensively on his less familiar right-back side.
Tuchel's touchline demeanor is known for its intensity. He has previously shown frustration, such as throwing a water bottle after conceding an early goal against DR Congo and closely instructing Noni Madueke during a game against Croatia. The manager has also had public disagreements with high-profile players, including Antonio Conte, Kylian Mbappe, and Romelu Lukaku, in past roles.
Terry admitted he is "not his fan" and does not consider Spence a strong defender or footballer, but he emphasized that he has not witnessed Tuchel directing such pointed criticism at other players on multiple occasions. This consistent, yet contradictory, treatment of Spence has led to Terry's concern.
Tuchel's management approach has reportedly caused friction in the past. At Chelsea, some players found him increasingly detached, which was cited as a factor in his departure from the club.