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In the case of Marc Guéhi, a fleeting spark of self-doubt was understandable. The Selhurst Park centre‑half had shone for England at Euro 2024, cementing himself as a key selection under the previous manager, and his status remained intact following Lee Carsley’s tenure in the initial part of last season.

Enter the new boss, and it is worth remembering that this was the coach who had sanctioned Guéhi’s sale from Chelsea to Crystal Palace in the summer of 2021. Guéhi certainly remembered that. Was Tuchel fancy him? When the new broom brought 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.

Tuchel started Guéhi in the following game, versus Latvia, also at Wembley, before he was unable to pick him for his next gathering in June, which included the matches against Andorra on the road and Senegal in Nottingham. Guéhi had sustained an eye injury during Palace’s historic FA Cup final victory over Manchester City.

“In my opinion it’s normal for every player to almost question that,” Guéhi says, reflecting on his absence from Albania. “As you’d expect, fresh coach arriving … it’s unclear what the team’s going to look like, it’s unknown who is going to play?”

What Guéhi then did was what he typically does – stay completely in the present, as composed as he could be. This approach would benefit him during a hectic end to the summer transfer window when the club chairman, Steve Parish, blocked his proposed transfer to Liverpool.

The next day, Guéhi joined up with England for the matches versus Andorra at Villa Park and Serbia in Belgrade and he worked like a demon. Nobody would have known about any internal turmoil. It is difficult not to see that gathering and those matches as a pivotal moment for Guéhi, the period when he won Tuchel over. The young defender started in each and was particularly impressive in the 5-0 win over Serbia, even adding his maiden strike for his country.

The trust works both ways. Tuchel has this ability of bringing players in, of empowering them; it was one of the main reasons why the FA hired him. “I think what the gaffer has done is show a lot of faith in every single one of us,” Guéhi comments. “Any time we do get the opportunity, we want to display what we can do.”

Faith as the Theme

Trust is the focus – and not only because Guéhi is the son of a pastor and devoutly Christian. England face Wales in a friendly at Wembley on Thursday night before traveling to Riga to face Latvia in their sixth World Cup qualifier next Tuesday and Tuchel has framed it all with his player choices.

It was, simply, the most stunning demonstration of confidence in the players from the previous get‑together, those who had gone to Serbia and sparked Tuchel’s reign. Each of the 24 who are fit have been kept – so not Tino Livramento or Noni Madueke, who have long-term issues. Or Reece James, who was forced to pull out on Monday because of a less serious one.

The Manager’s Decisions and Team Dynamics

His choice to omit 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 afterthought.

That which should not be ignored – and what Tuchel does not want ignored – is how he has stood by Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who was a last-minute addition in September to cover for the hurt Adam Wharton, even though Loftus-Cheek having surrendered his place in Milan’s Serie A team. Or how he retained Jarell Quansah, who came in for the injured John Stones in September, although the former now being OK and in the squad. Though, Quansah himself was compelled to withdraw on Wednesday because of a knee injury.

Here is how a coach creates a performance-based culture, how he forges connections. Tuchel loved 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 debate? Tuchel has effectively turned it into one for this session – and he believes in an positive in the message he has delivered. Past accolades will not influence him. Being a good teammate will.

Creating a Brotherhood

It was with perfect timing that Steven Gerrard opened up in an discussion with his former England teammate Rio Ferdinand on Tuesday, revealing how self-centered and divided their so-called talented era team was. The talent was not in question; it was the atmosphere that limited them and Tuchel is set to get this right. He was talking about a “brotherhood” within the squad before his first game.

“There’s any tension between anybody,” Guéhi explains. “We are, as we say when we’re here, Team England. No matter has happened in the past or whatever is occurring in the season, you put that aside. You arrive here, these are your best friends, your teammates, the players that you go to war with for as long as you’re here.

“The atmosphere is always positive when we’re here. The football association, previous managers and the squad themselves, the staff, have performed a fantastic job at creating an atmosphere. Then again, it depends on the individuals to actually embrace that. I think every single person has accepted that superbly because I love immensely being here and I am sure the others of the players feel the same, too.”

Future Focus

That which Tuchel expects versus Wales is a showing that stirs the Wembley crowd. Those against Albania and Latvia were steady enough; the victories welcome, the initial progress on the path to the World Cup next summer. But they were not thrillers. Can the team continue the intensity they showed in Serbia? The final words go to Guéhi.

“For me, worrying is a normal human emotion,” he states about being benched against Albania. “But I was picked in that squad. It signifies that the manager has chosen me for this chance and whether I’m playing or not I’ll always support the team.

“So personally, fretting can be a futile effort. You don’t have many days on this planet. I prefer to be excited and focused and assist the teammates that I can – or help myself – by striving to be the best that I can be rather than worrying.”