Tuchel Desires Jude Bellingham's Fire So Long As England's Star Sets Aside His Ego at the Door.
A single omission was enough. Another and it could have seemed spiteful from Thomas Tuchel, who is extremely shrewd not to realize that winning the World Cup demands help from Jude Bellingham, although it is also Bellingham's responsibility to blend into the tactical structures and team pecking order essential with England now that he is back in the manager's welcoming fold.
Tuchel wants the player's competitive fire, his passion, but it is about using it appropriately. Skill matters but England understand from past setbacks that there is a cost when stardom prevails. Still, a message has been sent.
Bellingham was given food for thought after not being selected of the recent team selection. He watched England qualify at next summer’s World Cup in his absence. He saw the young talent excel as a high-pressing attacking midfielder. He heard the coach discuss appreciating the squad's spirit and ethics. Naturally, Bellingham has responded in champion style, scoring crucial goals for his club versus Barcelona and the Italian side. He had to be picked; another omission would have left his World Cup hopes precarious.
The hope is that Tuchel will have a midfielder focused on intimidating opponents instead of teammates. Ultimately, on a pure footballing level, there is no value to creating tension with an elite performer in the world. The ideal scenario is that Bellingham’s time on the sidelines has demonstrated that representing the national team is a valuable, precarious thing. The coach, on his side, can now provide cover for the youngster after proving that he is unafraid to take tough decisions.
“There is no problem with him, and no concern about his personality,” Tuchel stated. “Jude displays a competitive streak. You need a sharp mentality to reach the heights that he has. We all need to support him and establish a setting where he can [have] that intensity towards opponents and in pursuit of success we are working towards as a team.”
Bellingham dominated most of the attention at the team news conference for the upcoming dead-rubber qualifiers versus one opponent and Albania. Who else? Indeed, how about Phil Foden? This is another prodigious No 10 who needs love and guidance. Foden has been absent for England since spring and has found it hard to hit the heights recently but Tuchel had to consider the player after his performance in Manchester City’s win versus Borussia Dortmund recently.
The question, however, is how to use the attacking talents at the team's disposal. Rogers and Eze merit inclusion and there will be a strong case to include Cole Palmer once he is fit after a fitness issue. Would taking five No 10s to the tournament be excessive? Gareth Southgate never found the correct balance at the European Championship. He made concessions by forcing Foden and Bellingham into the team, cramping the captain's influence in the process.
It is hard to see the current manager repeating that if it hurts the attacking balance. There is room for a single playmaker, with quick attackers on the flanks. Clarity is beneficial. Bellingham is selected as a central attacker. The new call-up, selected for the first occasion, is a No 8 and the recalled Wharton will compete with Elliot Anderson as a No 6. There will also be no position on the wing for the City star, who has to be through the middle. Tuchel prefers him close to the striker. “It is illogical to ask Phil: ‘We want you on the pitch but no spot exists on your best position, could you fill in at left wing? Can you play right wing?” he stated. “Phil will play in the central attacking zone, in the middle of the pitch. I have this vision regarding him for a long time. In my view it suits him the most.”
He conceded there are occasions when Foden has appeared uncomfortable in an England shirt. “One senses almost like, ‘Does he really enjoy it? And a player like him who has obvious passion to play football, then clearly something is not right, be it the position, the setup, I don’t know.
“I think he is additionally so used to playing for Man City in a particular setup, to have a defined role. I think he benefits a lot from clarity. Where do you want me to be? Where exactly am I to receive the ball? Where am I supposed to accelerate the match? Where do I have to defensive duties?”
Tuchel discussed Bellingham making runs for tap-ins and the other drilling in goals from 18 yards. He added he has a longlist of many candidates. Morgan Gibbs-White, Myles Lewis-Skelly, the goalkeeper and the midfielder have dropped out. A new face is rewarded for his excellent performances for City at defense. Interest is high.
Leaving out of Ollie Watkins means there is no like-for-like alternative for the captain in the selection. Interestingly, he hinted at using Foden as a deep-lying striker against Serbia or Albania. Other options, Marcus Rashford, the midfielder and Jarrod Bowen are alternatives if he be unavailable. With qualification secured, this is a moment for trying new things.
Meanwhile, it is also a moment to develop the understanding with Bellingham flowing. It is remarkable that one must look back to the latter assisting the captain to net in a friendly win versus Scotland in over a year ago to discover the sole instance in 35 games for the national team when the duo combined for a score. Tuchel will be aware that Kane and Bellingham only exchanged the ball a single time during the team's ties with one opponent and Slovenia at the European Championship. Their partnership is lacking.
“At this point at some point it becomes the duty of the players,” he said. He does not shy away to deliver home truths. Remains a feeling of the player being on trial. He cannot even be assured to start against Serbia and Albania. The manager wants Bellingham onside but he will be monitoring him closely. Set aside self-importance at the door. Doing so could turn a powerful England team into an more effective one.
