Thomas Tuchel has reacted to Jude Bellingham’s behaviour moments before being substituted during England’s 2-0 win over Albania on Sunday evening. The occasion, dampened by the fact that the Three Lions had already qualified for the World Cup, featured flat football dominated by aimless passing and a lack of intensity. It was billed as a non-event - and, until Harry Kane’s double, it largely played out that way.
Still, an 11th straight victory for England - the longest winning run in the nation’s history - capped off an immensely positive first year in charge for Tuchel. He also guided the team to win all eight qualifying games, scoring 22 goals and conceding none, making England the first European nation to complete an eight-game qualifying cycle without letting in a single goal.
From the outside, it all glitters for a nation of hopefuls optimistic about ending a 60-year wait for a major honour at next year’s World Cup. But one ongoing dilemma Tuchel hasn’t fully resolved is his strained relationship with Bellingham, which seemed to resurface over the weekend as the midfielder looked visibly frustrated when being hooked off for Morgan Rogers.
England bench
The England boss told reporters after Sunday evening's victory that he was refusing to look too deep into Bellingham's fury. He said (watch his full interview below): "I didn't see it that way. I have to review it. I saw he was not happy, I don't want to make it bigger at the moment than it is.
"To a certain degree, if you have a player like Jude that is so competitive that never likes it. My words stand, we are about standards, level and commitment to each other and respect to each other. We will not change our decision just because someone waves their arms."
"He didn't like it, but no-one likes it. But that's how it is. Morgan [Rogers] didn't like to be out and didn't deserve to be out, but that was the decision. Jude was also on a yellow card and I made the decision before the second goal and the decision stands."
Tuchel downplayed any suggestion that Bellingham “isn’t part of the collective,” but it was always going to be a talking point given the midfielder’s history of ill-tempered moments, which has seen him brandished three red cards in little over two seasons with Real Madrid - and the fact he was dropped from the England squad last time out.
jude bellingham england
It wasn’t his finest performance in Tirana, but his relationship with Tuchel is clearly taking steps toward being rebuilt. The very public spat between the pair has eased since he called the player out for 'repulsive' behaviour on the pitch, and the England boss publicly defending the 22-year-old is a significant step in the right direction.
Considered one of the best midfielders in the world and a star of Real Madrid’s dressing room, Bellingham will be vital to England’s hopes of glory next summer - especially in an engine room that also boasts Declan Rice, Phil Foden, and underrated system players like Adam Wharton and the in-form Elliott Anderson.