Thomas Tuchel Opens Up on Bellingham's Fitness and Squad Decisions
England manager Thomas Tuchel addresses Jude Bellingham snub and explains decisions behind omitted players like Phil Foden and Jack Grealish.
“He has not fully gathered his rhythm at Real Madrid – he has not finished a full match...”
England manager Thomas Tuchel has come out to clarify that there are no issues between him and the players who were left out of the latest squad, including Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, and Jack Grealish. Tuchel's side is gearing up to face Wales in a friendly match on October 9 and Latvia in a World Cup qualifier on October 14.
Reasons for Omissions:
Jude Bellingham: Bellingham hasn't fully regained his rhythm at Real Madrid after shoulder surgery, having not completed a full match since returning. Tuchel believes Bellingham always deserves a spot, but the current situation warranted sticking with the same group that performed well against Serbia.
Phil Foden: Despite influencing and deciding games for Manchester City, Foden wasn't included in the squad. Tuchel praises Foden's current form, stating there's no personal issue behind the decision.
Jack Grealish: Grealish has been impressive on loan at Everton, but Tuchel believes he's close to returning to his best version of himself. Like Foden, there's no personal problem cited for his omission.
🗣 Thomas Tuchel: "Jude Bellingham? I understand your focus on Jude. First of all he’s a very special player and for special players there can be special rules, I get this.
— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) October 3, 2025
But for this camp we decided that we stick with our straightforward decision to invite the same team. That… pic.twitter.com/ITTObufvg0
Tuchel emphasized that his decisions are based on rewarding the players who performed well in the last camp, particularly in the 5-0 win over Serbia. He also highlighted the importance of team spirit and finding solutions without relying on individual players. The manager had personal conversations with the omitted players, reassuring them of his appreciation for their talents.
Thomas Tuchel Addresses Jude Bellingham Snub and Omitted Players
England manager Thomas Tuchel has clarified that there are no issues between him and the players who were left out of the latest squad, including Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, and Jack Grealish. Bellingham, who recently returned to Real Madrid after shoulder surgery, hasn't fully regained his rhythm, having not completed a full match since his return.
“Bellingham always deserves to be in the camp,” Tuchel said. “He has not fully gathered his rhythm at Real Madrid – he has not finished a full match.” The England boss emphasized that his decision wasn't based on any personal problems, but rather sticking with the same group that performed well against Serbia.
Tuchel revealed that he had a phone call with Bellingham, who expressed his desire to be called up. “He wanted to be called up. We had a phone call,” Tuchel added. The manager stressed that there are no problems with any of the omitted players, praising Foden's current form for Manchester City and Grealish's progress at Everton.
“Phil is back influencing and deciding games for Manchester City. Jack is very close to being back to the best version of himself. There is no personal problem,” Tuchel said, emphasizing his positive relationships with the players.
Foden and Grealish Omission Explained
Thomas Tuchel addressed the omission of Phil Foden and Jack Grealish from the England squad, stating that there's no problem with the players. Foden has been in excellent form for Manchester City, while Grealish has impressed on loan at Everton. Tuchel emphasized that his decision was based on rewarding the players who performed well in the last camp, particularly in the 5-0 win over Serbia.
“There is no problem,” Tuchel said, highlighting the competitive nature of the England squad. He praised Foden's current form for Manchester City and Grealish's progress at Everton, but ultimately decided to stick with the players who had a strong showing in the previous camp.
“No. There is also no problem with Phil Foden or Jack Grealish either.
“Phil is back influencing and deciding games for Manchester City. Jack is very close to being back to the best version of himself.
“There is no personal problem.”
England's Plan Without Bellingham: Tuchel's Vision for the Future
Thomas Tuchel emphasized that England needs to learn to operate without Jude Bellingham, considering his potential absence from next year's World Cup due to his ongoing recovery from shoulder surgery. Bellingham's injury has forced Tuchel to make decisions without him, and the manager believes it's essential for the team to adapt to different scenarios.
“We have to learn to live without Jude Bellingham,” Tuchel said, highlighting the importance of flexibility in team strategy. He wants his players to be prepared for various situations, including the possibility of key players being unavailable for major tournaments.
“Do I believe we're a stronger team with Jude? Yes. Is he one of the best players in the world in midfield? Yes,” said the manager.
🗣 Thomas Tuchel: "Jude Bellingham? I understand your focus on Jude. First of all he’s a very special player and for special players there can be special rules, I get this.
— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) October 3, 2025
But for this camp we decided that we stick with our straightforward decision to invite the same team. That… pic.twitter.com/ITTObufvg0
“But what are we doing if a player like Jude is injured before the World Cup? Do we not travel? This is a team sport. We have to find solutions if players are injured, like now Cole Palmer. We found solutions in the last camp.
“This is more about the last camp and what we started to build than the dependency on individual players. It can never be the solution to depend on one player in football.”
Coming up for the #ThreeLons: an @alzheimerssoc International and a @FIFAWorldCup qualifier! 💪 pic.twitter.com/3BozHmrRYZ
— England (@England) October 3, 2025
Thomas Tuchel Praises Myles Lewis-Skelly's Progress
Thomas Tuchel has heaped praise on Arsenal defender Myles Lewis-Skelly, highlighting his rapid progress and outstanding attitude in the England camp. Lewis-Skelly has been included in Tuchel's latest squad despite limited game time at Arsenal, with Riccardo Calafiori currently preferred as the starting left-back.
“You have to perform at the club level on a regular basis. At last camp, he got the credit that we have to take care of him because we accelerated his career. We stick to this,” said Tuchel.
"It becomes a problem for him, it may not be enough" 😬
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) October 3, 2025
Does Myles Lewis-Skelly risk missing out on a place in England's World Cup squad due to his lack of starts for Arsenal, despite showing 'outstanding' behaviour throughout his time under Thomas Tuchel? 🏴 pic.twitter.com/EXcbkTEmH6
“He was part of a very successful camp, so he gets the reward for that, but he was not part of the 20-man squad in the match in Serbia.
“Still, his behaviour was outstanding. His training, attitude, and support for players on the pitch were at the highest level.”
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