Thomas Tuchel kicked off his England reign with a win over Albania and Declan Rice is all for the German dishing out some home truths if it helps England win the World Cup
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Updated 22:31, 23 Mar 2025
Declan Rice
Declan Rice insists England players don't mind a "kick up the a***" from Thomas Tuchel if it helps them win the World Cup
Declan Rice says England players will be happy to get a "kick up the a***" if that helps them win the World Cup. Rice even described himself as “too nice” and wants to have more “uncomfortable conversations” on the pitch when things are going badly.
England boss Thomas Tuchel has already spelt out the need for more leaders in the group and has not been afraid to publicly criticise players in his squad. That does not worry Rice who says it will also not worry the likes of Phil Foden or Marcus Rashford either because, in the past, the squad has been so friendly.
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Arsenal midfielder Rice said: “I think you need that. You can't be comfortable. This is top level international football. Me personally, I would rather be told that by the manager than it be hidden. I would rather that, because then it's going to give me a kick up the a***.
“Even with the manager working with him this week, he isn't going to take any nonsense. He knows that he's here to win the World Cup. That's what we want to do as a group.
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“And to do that, you need to push everyone, and you need to be uncomfortable. And if you're too comfortable, you're not going to get anywhere. And I think he knows that. So I think how he's been with us this week, this week has been really, really positive.
"It’s not about being too nice. We've been such good friends with each other. In the past there was talks of the rivalry, about the lads coming in and not getting on, and then it obviously completely switched where lads are all pretty much best mates with each other.
“But in terms of where we can improve as a group is just being uncomfortable with each other, sometimes. Where we are such good friends, having uncomfortable conversations on pitch, if it's not going well, that's where we can go to the next level in terms of getting over the line.
Declan Rice and Kyle Walker
Rice said new boss Tuchel had encouraged them to have "uncomfortable conversations" with each other
“As the tournaments go on and as the games get harder, you do talk more as a group. That's why you can't just have one leader. You need a lot of players in a group that come together, can have honest, uncomfortable conversations, but not like conversations where it's like, 'He's saying stuff about me' and you take it personally.
“It's like constructive criticism, and I think that's what we need more as a group in terms of what Harry was saying: more of us can chip in more, more of us can give our opinions, and we can form a really good group here where we can be honest with each other and push on.”
Rice also says England need more leaders and actually cited an example of watching a documentary on Manchester City and how Pep Guardiola ’s all-conquering side had several big voices in the dressing room. Tuchel has not named a vice-captain or re-established a leadership group which was part of Gareth Southgate's whole management style. But Rice wants to step up - even if that means no longer being Mr Nice Guy.
Thomas Tuchel and the England squad
Tuchel has called for more leaders in the England squad and has not shied away from criticising certain individuals
(Image: PA)
“It was a really good example, the Man City documentary that was on Sky Sports. And there were a lot of clip of them before the games,” said Rice. And it wasn't just Walks ( Kyle Walker ) who was the captain at the time talking. You had Rodri talking, you had Ruben Dias talking, you had Jack Grealish talking. And there was one more player... I think it was Kevin De Bruyne.
“Five of them, all talking before a game. And it's not just one captain it falls on. It's like a big group of players that demand and want the best for each other. I get on with everyone.
"Sometimes I'm a bit too nice, but definitely that's a role that Thomas has asked me to take on. Gareth asked me to take on. Same at Arsenal where I need to be more demanding, I can be more honest with players. To be fair, this year at Arsenal, probably I've taken that step a lot more than what I had done in the past.
“Obviously, I was captain at West Ham from a young age, so I do have the responsibilities to do that and lead, but definitely something I can improve on in my game is that leadership side of stuff.”
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