Thomas Tuchel has responded to questions over Cole Palmer's England commitment
Thomas Tuchel admits it is "hard to argue" with concerns regarding Cole Palmer's dedication to the England squad
Thomas Tuchel admits it is "hard to argue" with concerns regarding Cole Palmer's dedication to the England squad(Image: Eddie Keogh - The FA)
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Thomas Tuchel admits it is "hard to argue" with concerns regarding Cole Palmer's dedication to the England squad, as the Chelsea star "misses too many opportunities" and "way too many camps".
The 24-year-old has earned just three caps since the German assumed control at the beginning of last year and, despite appearing in both March friendlies, was omitted from the World Cup squad.
Palmer received a recall for England's autumn Nations League matches, only to withdraw from the group at the start of a week that concludes with questions surrounding the Chelsea playmaker's international aspirations.
Load management has been suggested as a reason, though Tuchel insists "discomfort and pain" lie behind an absence that has left the national team manager exasperated.
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"For sure it's a missed opportunity," Tuchel stated. "It's another missed opportunity. He misses too many opportunities, and I don't blame him for it. It's just the fact.
"He misses way too many camps with injuries and I only want to rely on what I personally witness and what I see within my team, and for that you have to be in camp.
"If you're not in camp, there's a next level to impress that you cannot achieve because you only can do it when you're actually with me on the pitch and with us on the pitch so, yeah, it is a missed opportunity."
Declan Rice, Marcus Rashford, Kobbie Mainoo and Tino Livramento also pulled out of the squad on Monday, though the disappointment regarding Palmer was evident. When it was suggested to Tuchel that the Chelsea player doesn't appear particularly keen to join up, he puffed his cheeks and responded: "Hard to argue against (what you are saying).
"It leaves us with Jude Bellingham, Morgan Rogers, Morgan Gibbs-White and Eberechi Eze. All in camp. All desperate to be here.
"All available and all ready to go, ready to stop a holiday after one day in Dubai (in Gibbs-White's case) and fly back."
Tuchel was keen to emphasise "every case is individual" regarding withdrawals, with Rice telephoning him to explain an issue he had already identified, before confirming that Mainoo and Rashford were competing through discomfort.
When questioned whether player withdrawals remain with him, Tuchel stated: "It's the opposite. What sticks with me is the week that I have with the others.
"(The absentees) lose that. That sticks because we create something. We're just not here for a week and say 'oh, let's play a six against six and now a nine against nine, let's do a little bit of foot volley and then we play'.
"We actually work off the field, on the field, on our principles and how to be a top team-mate. You miss out if you're not there."
England contest their first fixture since the World Cup at home to Spain on Saturday, beginning a four-match Nations League gathering.
Harry Kane will match Peter Shilton's 125-cap appearance record should he feature in all of them and Tuchel commented: "Harry is desperate to start all four and there is a chance he will.
"This would actually be my mindset, to not make so many changes, to keep it going and to give the players we can rely on the trust and responsibility to take the next step and carry this team."