For Marc Guéhi, a fleeting spark of self-doubt was natural. The Selhurst Park defender had excelled for England at Euro 2024, cementing himself as a key selection under the previous manager, and his standing remained intact after Lee Carsley’s spell in the initial part of last season.
Enter Thomas Tuchel, which is important to recall that this was the coach who had approved Guéhi’s sale from Chelsea to Crystal Palace in the offseason of 2021. Guéhi certainly recalled that. Was Tuchel fancy him? When the fresh leadership swept Dan Burn into the lineup for his first game in charge, versus Albania at Wembley in March, with Guéhi as an uninvolved reserve, it did not look great.
The manager selected Guéhi in the following game, against Latvia, again at Wembley, before he was unable to select him for his next gathering in June, which took in the fixtures versus Andorra away and Senegal in Nottingham. Guéhi had sustained an eye injury during Palace’s historic FA Cup final win over Manchester City.
“I’d say it’s normal for every player to almost doubt that,” Guéhi says, reflecting on his absence against Albania. “As you’d expect, fresh coach arriving … who knows what the squad’s going to look like, it’s unknown who is going to feature?”
What Guéhi then did was exactly what he typically does – stay firmly in the moment, as composed as he could be. Which would benefit him during a dramatic end to the offseason window when the Palace chair, Steve Parish, prevented his planned transfer to Liverpool.
The next day, Guéhi reported with England for the games against Andorra at Villa Park and Serbia in Belgrade and he trained like a demon. Not a soul would have known about any personal doubts. It is hard not to see that camp and those matches as a pivotal moment for Guéhi, the period when he earned Tuchel around. The young defender started in both and was particularly good in the 5-0 win over Serbia, even contributing his first international goal.
The faith works both ways. Tuchel has this ability of drawing players in, of empowering them; it was one of the main reasons why the Football Association hired him. “In my view what the manager has done is show a lot of faith in every single one of us,” Guéhi says. “Whenever we receive the chance, we want to display what we can do.”
Faith as the Central Idea
Trust is the theme – and not just because Guéhi is the son of a church minister and deeply Christian. England meet Wales in a exhibition at Wembley on Thursday night before traveling to Riga to play Latvia in their sixth World Cup qualifying tie next Tuesday and Tuchel has framed it all with his squad selection.
It was, quite, the most stunning demonstration of confidence in the players from the last get‑together, those who had gone to Serbia and sparked Tuchel’s reign. 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 obliged to withdraw on Monday because of a more minor one.
The Manager’s Decisions and Team Dynamics
Tuchel’s choice to overlook the returned Jude Bellingham has led the discourse – to the point that the omission of Phil Foden, who is also fully recovered, has been rendered as a something of a footnote.
That which should not be overlooked – and what Tuchel hopes won’t be missed – is how he has supported Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who was a late call-up in September to cover for the hurt Adam Wharton, even though Loftus-Cheek having lost his place in Milan’s Serie A team. Or how he kept Jarell Quansah, who came in for the injured John Stones in September, although the former now being fit and in the group. Though, Quansah himself was forced to exit on Wednesday because of a knock.
Here is how a manager builds a meritocracy, how he forges bonds. Tuchel admired the team behind the team in Serbia, the unheralded contributors on the bench, and he aimed to reward them. Bellingham or Loftus‑Cheek? Is that a question? Tuchel has essentially made it one for this camp – and he believes in an upside in the message he has sent. Reputations will not influence him. Acting as a supportive colleague will.
Building a Strong Unit
It was with good timing that Steven Gerrard spoke candidly in an interview with his ex England colleague Rio Ferdinand on Tuesday, revealing how self-centered and clique-ridden their so-called talented era squad was. The talent was not in doubt; it was the atmosphere that limited them and Tuchel is set to get this right. He was speaking about a “brotherhood” within the squad before his first game.
“There isn’t any animosity between anybody,” Guéhi explains. “We are, as we say when we’re here, the England squad. Whatever has gone on in the before or whatever is going on in the season, you leave that behind. You arrive here, these become your closest allies, your colleagues, the guys that you battle with for as long as you’re here.
“The environment is always positive when we’re here. The FA, previous managers and the players themselves, the staff, have done a excellent role at creating an atmosphere. Then again, it comes down to the players to truly embrace that. In my opinion each member has accepted that brilliantly because I love so much coming here and I am sure the rest of the players feel the same, too.”
Looking Ahead
That which Tuchel wants versus Wales is a performance that excites the Wembley crowd. Those against Albania and Latvia were steady enough; the wins welcome, the first steps on the path to the World Cup next summer. But they were not pulse‑quickeners. Can the side continue the intensity they displayed in Serbia? The final words belong to Guéhi.
“For me, anxiety is a normal feeling,” he says about not playing against Albania. “But I was selected in that squad. It means that the boss has chosen me for this opportunity and whether I’m starting or not I’ll always back the team.
“So for me, worrying can be a futile effort. You don’t have many moments on this earth. I prefer to be excited and concentrated and help the teammates that I can – or help myself – by being the best that I can be instead of worrying.”
