🔗 Share this article

For Marc Guéhi, a fleeting spark of self-doubt was understandable. The Selhurst Park defender had shone for England at the European Championships, establishing himself as a first-choice pick under the previous manager, and his status stayed secure following 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 manager who had sanctioned Guéhi’s transfer from Stamford Bridge to Palace in the summer of 2021. Guéhi definitely recalled that. Was Tuchel rate him? When the fresh leadership brought another defender into the starting XI for his first game in charge, versus Albania at Wembley in March, with Guéhi as an unused substitute, it wasn’t promising.

Tuchel started Guéhi in the next game, against Latvia, again at Wembley, before he was not able to pick him for his next gathering in June, which included the matches against Andorra on the road and Senegal in Nottingham. Guéhi had suffered an eye injury during Palace’s memorable FA Cup final win against Manchester City.

“In my opinion it’s normal for every player to practically question that,” Guéhi states, reflecting on his omission against Albania. “You know, fresh coach arriving … it’s unclear what the team’s going to look like, who knows who’s going to play?”

The thing Guéhi did next was exactly what he always does – remain completely in the moment, as balanced as he could be. This approach would serve him well during a dramatic end to the offseason window when the club chairman, Steve Parish, blocked his proposed transfer to Liverpool.

The next day, Guéhi reported with England for the matches versus Andorra at Villa Park and Serbia in Belgrade and he worked like a man possessed. Not a soul would have known about any internal turmoil. It is hard not to see that camp and those matches as a turning point for Guéhi, the period when he won Tuchel around. The 25-year-old started in both and was especially good in the 5-0 win over Serbia, even adding his first international goal.

The faith works both ways. Tuchel has this ability of drawing players in, of empowering them; it was a primary factors why the Football Association appointed him. “I think what the manager has achieved is demonstrate a lot of belief in every single one of us,” Guéhi comments. “Whenever we receive the opportunity, we want to display what we can achieve.”

Faith as the Central Idea

Trust is the theme – and not just because Guéhi is the son of a pastor and deeply Christian. England face Wales in a friendly at Wembley on Thursday night before traveling to Riga to face Latvia in their next World Cup qualifier next Tuesday and Tuchel has framed it all with his squad selection.

It was, simply, the most remarkable show of support in the players from the previous camp, those who had traveled to Serbia and sparked Tuchel’s tenure. Each of the 24 who are fit have been retained – so excluding Tino Livramento or Noni Madueke, who have long-term issues. Or Reece James, who was forced to withdraw on Monday because of a less serious one.

The Manager’s Decisions and Squad Dynamics

His decision to omit the fit-again Jude Bellingham has led the conversation – to the point that the exclusion of Phil Foden, who is likewise fully recovered, has been made as a bit of a footnote.

That which must not be ignored – and what Tuchel hopes won’t be ignored – is how he has stood by Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who was a last-minute addition in September to replace the injured Adam Wharton, despite Loftus-Cheek having lost his place in Milan’s Serie A team. Or how he retained Jarell Quansah, who stepped up for the injured John Stones in September, despite the latter now being OK and in the squad. Though, Quansah himself was compelled to withdraw on Wednesday because of a knock.

Here is how a manager creates a performance-based culture, how he forges bonds. Tuchel admired the unit supporting the team in Serbia, the unheralded contributors on the sidelines, and he wanted 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 signal he has delivered. Reputations will not influence him. Acting as a good teammate will.

Creating a Brotherhood

It was with good timing that Steven Gerrard spoke candidly in an discussion with his former England colleague Rio Ferdinand on Tuesday, disclosing how self-centered and clique-ridden their much-hyped golden generation squad was. The ability was not in question; it was the environment that held them back and Tuchel is set to get this right. He was talking about a “brotherhood” within the squad before his first game.

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

“The environment is consistently great when we’re here. The football association, past coaches and the players themselves, the staff, have done a excellent job at creating an atmosphere. Then again, it depends on the individuals to actually buy into that. I think each member has accepted that superbly because I love immensely coming here and I know the rest of the lads do, too.”

Future Focus

What Tuchel wants versus Wales is a performance that excites the Wembley crowd. Those against Albania and Latvia were steady sufficient; the victories welcome, the first steps on the path to the World Cup next summer. But they were not pulse‑quickeners. Will the side build on the intensity they showed in Serbia? The last thoughts belong to Guéhi.

“In my case, worrying is a normal feeling,” he says about being benched against Albania. “But I was picked in that squad. It means that the manager has opted for me for this opportunity and if I’m playing or not I’ll still back the team.

“So personally, fretting can be a futile effort. You don’t have many moments on this earth. I prefer to be positive and concentrated and assist the teammates that I can – or help myself – by striving to be the finest that I can be rather than stressing.”