England manager Thomas Tuchel willing to leave out star players
What's the story
England manager Thomas Tuchel has said he is willing to leave out star players rather than change his system to fit them all in. The statement comes as Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden make their high-profile returns to the England squad for November's FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Serbia and Albania. Here we look at what the German coach had to say.
Squad dynamics
Rather than finding the best players a position
During a press conference ahead of England's match against Serbia on Thursday, Tuchel was asked whether an in-form Morgan Rogers and Bellingham could play in the same team. "I don't know. I guess so, but not both in the same position obviously," said Tuchel. "Rather than finding the best players a position to just have them on the field, it's maybe better to put everyone in their best positions and have a competition."
Competition
Bellingham to compete for a place with Rogers
Tuchel also stated at the moment the competition is between Rogers and Bellingham. "At the moment the competition is between the two of them. They're friends so it can be a friendly competition. They don't have to be enemies and hate each other. They fight at the moment for the same position." "Can they play together? Yes, but in a different structure then maybe, and the moment is not the moment to change our structure."
Duo
Tuchel expected Bellingham and Foden to be part of squad
Tuchel also said he was happy with how Bellingham and Foden have reintegrated into the group. The two were not selected for recent England camps. However, Tuchel expects both players to contribute to the side. The two star players rejoin an England team that has won the last four games without them by an aggregate score of 15-0. "I expect what they showed - be straight away part of the group," said Tuchel.
Words
'We're obliged to drive our own campaign'
"We were driving the levels and driving the thing without them. We'd do it missing any other player. We're obliged to drive our own campaign, our own standards and build what we can build. Now they're back and it is their responsibility to contribute to all this and this is what they're doing," the former Chelsea managed said. "It's at the moment easy for them because the group is strong, the standards are clear and you can fit in seamlessly. This counts also for newcomers like Alex Scott."
Squad
A look at England's updated squad
The full England squad for the international break is as follows: Goalkeepers - Dean Henderson, Jordan Pickford, James Trafford. Defenders - Trevoh Chalobah, Dan Burn, Marc Guehi, Reece James, Ezri Konsa, Nico O'Reilly, Jarrel Quansah, Djed Spence, and John Stones. Midfielders - Elliot Anderson, Jude Bellingham, Jordan Henderson, Declan Rice, Morgan Rogers, Alex Scott, Adam Wharton. Forwards - Jarrod Bowen, Eberechi Eze, Phil Foden, Harry Kane, Marcus Rashford, Bukayo Saka.