England boss Thomas Tuchel was asked if the 115 charges story had been a distraction for Manchester City players
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 26: Marc Guehi of England during the UEFA Nations League 2026/27 group phase match between England and Spain at Wembley Stadium on September 26, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Pedro Porru/MB Media/Getty Images)
Elliot Anderson and Marc Guehi
View Image
Thomas Tuchel said that he had not brought up Manchester City's guilty verdicts in the 115 case with his players but thinks that it is good that the players discussed it. Marc Guehi, Nico O'Reilly and Elliot Anderson all started against Spain on Saturday night in a 3-2 defeat just over 24 hours after news that could transform their future.
Guehi and O'Reilly both made errors that led to goals in the game and England captain Harry Kane rubbished a suggestion made after the game that they had been distracted by the news. “There was a discussion, but at the end of the day when we're with England, that's been a big plus for us, we kind of put club football to one side, and it was no different this week," he said.
England boss Tuchel backed that claim up, saying that he did not feel any difference from the three City players. The fact that he started them all also indicated that it wasn't seen as an issue.
"Not for me but I can imagine maybe for the Man City players and I will not comment on that. It's an ongoing investigation so I will not give any comment to that," he said.
"I didn't make it a topic. It was no topic for me in camp. I hear news as the latest person in camp, I'm just thinking about Spain and training and media meetings and team meetings. The players have more time than me so for sure I can imagine that they talk about it but it's good that they do and I didn't feel them distracted."
Rodri played for Spain against England after making clear in a press conference on Friday evening that he still believes in the club's innocence. City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak published an open letter to supporters on Saturday insisting that nothing has changed.