Tuchel Under Pressure but Dismisses Club Pleas for Player Rest

Thomas Tuchel acknowledged the pressure on his England team following their recent defeat to Spain at Wembley Stadium. The manager emphasized the need for his squad to bounce back immediately as they prepare for their next Nations League fixture against Czechia in Prague on Tuesday night. A victory in that match is crucial for England to maintain a realistic chance of winning their group.

"After a loss we are all desperate to bounce back straight away and the next possibility is the Czech Republic," Tuchel stated. "Yeah, it puts a bit of pressure of course but nothing we can’t handle. Defeat is never good."

England faces a demanding schedule with the upcoming match in Prague, followed by another away game in Croatia on Saturday and a return fixture against the Czechs at Wembley. Despite the challenging week and the responsibility to manage player workload, Tuchel firmly stated he would not entertain requests from club managers, whether from the Premier League or abroad, to rest his players.

"No I don’t take calls from Premier League managers," Tuchel said. "I never called any national team coach when I was a club manager. It is what it is. I cannot manage the players. It’s just impossible. I knew as a club coach – when I was on the other side – that I had this example many times."

Tuchel elaborated that such calls would be inappropriate and send the wrong message to players, suggesting it would be "madness" to imply that resting or playing reduced minutes was acceptable. "We want to win the next match," he asserted.

England's recent loss to Spain was a close contest, with Harry Kane missing a penalty that could have shifted the momentum when the score was 2-1 in England's favor. Jude Bellingham was highlighted as a key player for the team, showcasing strong performances.

When asked about Bellingham's ability to sustain such an intense style of play across multiple games, Tuchel commented, "It’s the only style he can play, that’s just his game. It’s not an economical game but let’s see. I would love to have him four times on the pitch. I think the concern is that he hasn’t done it this season in this tight period. We will need to check with the physios. We will not put Jude at any risk. But his style is how he plays."

Bellingham's on-field intensity was evident during his duels with Real Madrid teammate Marc Cucurella. "He likes that," Tuchel noted. "He gets better if that happens. It’s better if he plays with a bit of rage. It’s what he does. I think sometimes he is looking for these moments to get his fire going. He wants to win. He doesn’t know any club team-mates. He is still friends with them but not for the 90 minutes."