Guéhi Leaves Worries Behind, Earning Tuchel’s Trust and Claiming His Three Lions Spot

For Marc Guéhi, a fleeting flicker of self-doubt was understandable. The Crystal Palace defender had excelled for England at the European Championships, cementing himself as a first-choice selection under Gareth Southgate, and his standing stayed secure following the caretaker coach’s tenure in the first half of last season.

Enter Thomas Tuchel, and it is important to recall that this was the coach who had approved Guéhi’s sale from Chelsea to Palace in the summer of 2021. Guéhi definitely remembered that. Was Tuchel rate him? When the new broom brought another defender into the lineup for his first game in charge, against Albania at Wembley in March, leaving Guéhi as an unused substitute, it did not look promising.

Tuchel started Guéhi in the next game, versus Latvia, also at Wembley, before he was unable to select him for his next gathering in June, which included the fixtures against Andorra on the road and Senegal in Nottingham. Guéhi had sustained an eye injury during Palace’s historic FA Cup final victory over Manchester City.

“In my opinion it’s natural for every player to practically doubt that,” Guéhi says, reflecting on his absence against Albania. “As you’d expect, fresh coach coming in … who knows what the squad’s going to look like, who knows who is going to play?”

The thing Guéhi then did was what he always does – remain completely in the present, as composed as possible. This approach would serve him well during a hectic end to the offseason window when the club chairman, Steve Parish, blocked his planned move to Liverpool.

The next day, Guéhi reported with England for the games versus Andorra at Villa Park and Serbia in Belgrade and he worked like a demon. Not a soul would have been aware about any personal doubts. It is difficult not to see that gathering and those matches as a pivotal moment for Guéhi, the time when he won Tuchel over. The young defender started in both and was particularly good in the 5-0 win over Serbia, even adding his maiden strike for his country.

The faith cuts both ways. Tuchel has this knack of bringing players in, of supporting them; it was one of the main factors why the Football Association appointed him. “In my view what the manager has achieved is show a lot of faith in every single one of us,” Guéhi says. “Whenever we receive the opportunity, we want to display what we can achieve.”

Belief as the Theme

Faith is the theme – and not only because Guéhi is the son of a pastor and devoutly Christian. England face Wales in a friendly at Wembley on Thursday night before traveling to Riga to face Latvia in their next World Cup qualifier next Tuesday and Tuchel has shaped it all with his squad selection.

It was, quite, the most stunning show of confidence in the players from the last camp, those who had gone to Serbia and ignited Tuchel’s tenure. Each of the 24 who are available have been kept – so not Tino Livramento or Noni Madueke, who have serious injuries. Or Reece James, who was obliged to withdraw on Monday because of a less serious one.

The Manager’s Decisions and Team Unity

Tuchel’s choice to omit the fit-again Jude Bellingham has led the discourse – to the extent that the omission of Phil Foden, who is likewise fully recovered, has been rendered as a bit of a footnote.

That which should not be overlooked – and what Tuchel does not want missed – is how he has supported Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who was a last-minute addition in September to replace the hurt Adam Wharton, despite Loftus-Cheek having surrendered his spot in Milan’s Serie A team. Or how he retained Jarell Quansah, who came in for the injured John Stones in September, although the former now being fit and in the squad. However, Quansah himself was forced to withdraw on Wednesday because of a knee injury.

This is how a manager creates a meritocracy, how he forges bonds. Tuchel admired the unit behind the team in Serbia, the unheralded contributors on the sidelines, and he aimed to reward them. Bellingham or Loftus‑Cheek? Is that a debate? Tuchel has essentially turned it into one for this session – and he believes in an upside in the message he has delivered. Reputations will not influence him. Being a good teammate will.

Creating a Strong Unit

It was with good timing that Steven Gerrard spoke candidly in an interview with his former England teammate Rio Ferdinand on Tuesday, disclosing how self-centered and divided their so-called golden generation squad was. The talent was not in doubt; it was the environment that limited them and Tuchel is set to fix this. He was speaking about a “brotherhood” within the squad before his first game.

“There isn’t any tension between anybody,” Guéhi explains. “We are, as we say when we’re here, Team England. No matter has happened in the before or what is occurring in the campaign, you put that aside. You arrive here, these are your closest allies, your colleagues, the players that you battle with for however long you’re here.

“The environment is always great when we’re here. The FA, previous managers and the squad themselves, the staff, have performed a fantastic job at fostering an atmosphere. Then again, it depends on the individuals to actually embrace that. In my opinion each member has bought into that superbly because I enjoy immensely being here and I am sure the rest of the lads feel the same, too.”

Future Focus

What Tuchel wants versus Wales is a showing that excites the Wembley fans. Those versus Albania and Latvia were solid sufficient; the wins positive, the first steps on the path to the World Cup next summer. But they were not thrillers. Can the team continue the cut and thrust they displayed in Serbia? The final words belong to Guéhi.

“For me, worrying is a normal human emotion,” he says about not playing against Albania. “But I was picked in that group. It means that the manager has chosen me for this chance and if I’m starting or not I’ll always back the team.

“So for me, fretting can be a waste of time. You don’t have many moments on this earth. I’d rather be positive and concentrated and help the teammates that I can – or improve personally – by being the finest that I can be instead of stressing.”