Thomas Tuchel just became the next England manager. More than anything though, Southgate talked up the idea that he won’t be jumping into an overhaul of his squad too hastily, following their encouraging 2-0 win against Albania. Tuchel is still finding his feet in his new position. He used this faith to call out the abject display of wingers Marcus Rashford and Phil Foden after a respectable first half against Spain. He promised that no player would be punished for the public displays of power. He is thinking of going with a similar lineup when they face Latvia.
In his post-match debrief, Tuchel said that neither Rashford or Foden came anywhere near their normal levels of impact. He pointed out Rashford’s crucial contribution towards creating a fantastic opportunity for his fellow-Mancunian Jude Bellingham. Plus, he was seeing a ton of quality off-the-ball runs from Rashford that the squad just didn’t see. Tuchel thinks the same of Foden’s currently horrible streak of form. Despite that, he is arguably the best player at bringing fun and positive vibes to the field.
"I think both of our wingers who started [Foden and Rashford] were not as impactful as they normally can be, or as they normally are in club football," Tuchel stated after the match.
Tuchel further explained his plan for unleashing the potential of Rashford and Foden, emphasizing the effectiveness of one vs. one scenarios. He reiterated a hope for both players to gain confidence and start converting in these scenarios more often.
"Ideally we try to bring them in more one-on-one situations and ideally they have the confidence to take the one-on-ones," Tuchel said.
Curiously, perhaps, the manager chose to focus on a tactical detail in Foden’s game. He recommended that creating a more direct relationship to a No 10 might increase Foden’s impact in games moving forward.
"Phil needs maybe a little bit closer connections to a No 10 than we could provide in this match," he remarked.
Tuchel praised their work rate, singling out their efforts without the ball.
"But, off the ball, the effort was there and that's what counts," he added.
Tuchel is looking at the development potential of Rashford and Foden. He is confident in their ability to add value to the team. He called for a renewed sense of patience and understanding as he enters the early days of his leadership. As he influences the team’s culture and approach, he’s dedicated to creating a healthy atmosphere.
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