Tuchel Admits to Nerves Ahead of England Debut Against Albania
Thomas Tuchel is set to make his England debut against Albania, and the new manager has vowed to make people believe in him. With the support of captain Harry Kane, Tuchel is determined to revive England's fortunes after their Euro 2024 disappointment.
Thomas Tuchel, the new England manager, has called on his players to adopt a fearless approach to the game. Tuchel, who took over the reins in January, believes England's performances in the EURO 2024 final under his predecessor Gareth Southgate were hindered by fear. “They were more afraid to drop out of the tournament in my observation than having the excitement and hunger to win it,” Tuchel revealed in an interview with ITV.
Tuchel's assessment of England's EURO 2024 campaign was scathing, despite the team reaching the final. He expressed his desire to instill a more dynamic attitude in his squad, emphasizing the need for a carefree approach to the game. Tuchel's first match in charge will be against Albania at Wembley on Friday, in their opening World Cup qualifier.
When asked what was missing from Gareth Southgate's squad, Tuchel identified several key areas. “The identity, the clarity, the rhythm, the freedom of players, the hunger,” he listed. Tuchel's comments suggest that he is eager to implement significant changes to the team's mindset and playing style.
Gareth Southgate's departure as England manager was prompted by the team's defeat to Spain in the EURO 2024 final. Despite leading England to two Euros finals, Southgate was unable to end the country's lengthy trophy drought. Thomas Tuchel, his successor, is now focused on implementing an attacking philosophy aimed at achieving success at the 2026 World Cup.
Tuchel expressed his desire to transform the team's mindset, emphasizing the need for self-confidence and a carefree approach to the game. “It was just my feeling watching the TV, long before I even knew I may be in charge,” Tuchel told reporters on Thursday. “I think it is a pretty clear statement and I don't know how to put it in other words. I felt tension and pressure on the shoulders of the players.”
Tuchel believes that England's previous approach was overly cautious, with players focusing on avoiding defeat rather than striving for victory. “They were playing to not lose,” he observed. In contrast, Tuchel wants his team to embody a more positive mindset, driven by “the excitement and the hunger and the desire to win and the joy to win and the acceptance of failure is part of it.”
Tuchel's vision for the team is built around the principles of togetherness, joy, and self-expression. “We want to implement the togetherness and the joy and for everyone to feel safe to express themselves and give their very best,” he explained. Ultimately, Tuchel's goal is to inspire his players to adopt a winning mentality, fueled by ”a hunger and a joy to win and not with the fear to lose.”
England captain Harry Kane, who previously played under Thomas Tuchel at Bayern Munich, reflected on the team's disappointing performances at Euro 2024. Kane acknowledged that the team struggled to cope with the pressure of being title favorites. “I think there was more expectation than we had at any other tournament. It was the first one where we were one of the favourites,” Kane explained.
Kane agreed with Tuchel's assessment that England's players were weighed down by the burden of expectation. “Even though we leaned on experience from other tournaments, we just couldn't find the rhythm,” Kane said. However, Kane is optimistic about the changes Tuchel is implementing, particularly in terms of improving interactions between players on the pitch. “Thomas has obviously looked at that. He has spoken about interactions between each other on the pitch. He knows you don't have to change everything but there are a few details that if you do change you have a greater chance of success.”
Tuchel has been impressed with the team's response to his methods during their first training camp together. “What I saw in the last days was amazing. I hope we can transport that into the stadium. There is a buzz for the first match,” Tuchel said. Despite his experience managing top-tier clubs like Chelsea, Bayern, and Paris Saint-Germain, Tuchel acknowledged that adapting to international football has been a learning curve.
As Tuchel prepares for his first match in charge of England, he confessed to feeling a mix of emotions. “I will be a bit nervous. Hopefully, we can prove the point and take the first step. I have to make people believe in me,” Tuchel said. With his wealth of experience and success in club football, Tuchel is determined to make a positive impact on the England team and win over the fans.
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