Thomas Tuchel
Image credit: Getty Images
England manager Thomas Tuchel has highlighted Arsenal’s use of Declan Rice in a recent Champions League match as an example of how Premier League clubs prioritise their own interests, despite concerns about player workload.
Tuchel, who took charge of the Three Lions earlier this year, acknowledges the pressures club managers face at a crucial stage of the season. However, he remains focused on England’s objectives ahead of their World Cup qualifier against Latvia on Monday.
Having previously managed Borussia Dortmund, Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich, and Chelsea, Tuchel is now experiencing the challenges of international management for the first time. While he once preferred that his club players avoided back-to-back international fixtures, he now finds himself on the other side of the debate.
Speaking ahead of England’s upcoming fixture, Tuchel noted that clubs are primarily concerned with their own interests, citing Arsenal’s selection of Declan Rice in a Champions League second-leg tie against PSV Eindhoven, despite holding a 7-1 aggregate lead.
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“After a 7-1 first leg and Declan Rice played the next match with Arsenal, I didn’t have the feeling that they think so much about us,” Tuchel remarked.
Declan Rice
Declan Rice (Image credit: Getty Images)
Myles Lewis-Skelly was another young player used in the match, reinforcing his argument that clubs prioritise their own schedules regardless of international duty.
Tuchel acknowledged the importance of communication between clubs and national teams but insisted that England will make decisions based on what is best for them.
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“We are very well aware that clubs are playing for championships and Champions League quarter-finals, but we have our own goals,” Tuchel said. “The players are keen to play, and it has to be like this.”
The England boss emphasised that he will carefully manage player fitness, working closely with clubs to avoid unnecessary risks. However, he dismissed the notion of resting players simply to protect them for upcoming club matches.
“We monitor them, we are in contact with the clubs, and we won’t take unprofessional risks,” Thomas Tuchel assured. “I don’t want players to be injured—I want them to play their Champions League quarter-finals because I want to watch them. But in the end, we take care of us, and the clubs take care of themselves.”
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