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In the case of Marc Guéhi, a fleeting spark of self-doubt was understandable. The Crystal Palace centre‑half had excelled for England at the European Championships, cementing himself as a first-choice selection under Gareth Southgate, and his status stayed secure after Lee Carsley’s tenure in the initial part of last season.

Then came Thomas Tuchel, and it is important to recall that this was the coach who had approved Guéhi’s sale from Stamford Bridge to Palace in the offseason of 2021. Guéhi certainly remembered that. Did Tuchel rate him? When the fresh leadership brought Dan Burn into the starting XI for his debut in charge, versus Albania at Wembley in March, leaving Guéhi as an unused substitute, it did not look promising.

Tuchel selected Guéhi in the next game, versus Latvia, also at Wembley, before he was unable to pick him for his next gathering in June, which took in the matches versus Andorra away and Senegal in Nottingham. Guéhi had suffered an facial knock during Palace’s historic FA Cup final win against Manchester City.

“I’d say it’s natural for every player to almost doubt that,” Guéhi states, looking back at his absence from Albania. “You know, new manager coming in … who knows what the squad’s going to be, who knows who’s going to play?”

The thing Guéhi then did was exactly what he always does – remain firmly in the moment, as balanced as possible. This approach would serve him well during a dramatic end to the summer transfer window when the club chairman, Steve Parish, blocked his proposed move to Liverpool.

The following day, Guéhi joined up with England for the games versus Andorra at Villa Park and Serbia in Belgrade and he trained like a man possessed. Not a soul would have known about any internal turmoil. It is difficult not to see that camp and those matches as a turning point for Guéhi, the time when he earned Tuchel over. The young defender was selected in each and was especially good in the 5-0 win against Serbia, even adding his first international goal.

The trust works both ways. Tuchel has this knack of bringing players in, of empowering them; it was a primary reasons why the Football Association appointed him. “In my view what the manager has done is show a lot of faith in every single one of us,” Guéhi comments. “Any time we do get the opportunity, we aim to show what we can achieve.”

Belief as the Central Idea

Trust is the focus – and not only because Guéhi is the child 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 sixth World Cup qualifier next Tuesday and Tuchel has framed it all with his player choices.

It was, simply, the most remarkable show of confidence in the players from the previous get‑together, those who had traveled to Serbia and ignited Tuchel’s tenure. Every one of the 24 who are available have been retained – so excluding Tino Livramento or Noni Madueke, who have long-term issues. Or Reece James, who was forced to pull out on Monday because of a more minor one.

Tuchel’s Decisions and Team Dynamics

Tuchel’s choice to overlook the fit-again Jude Bellingham has dominated 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.

What must not be overlooked – and what Tuchel does not want missed – is how he has stood by Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who was a late call-up in September to cover for the hurt Adam Wharton, despite Loftus-Cheek having lost his spot in Milan’s Serie A side. Or how he retained Jarell Quansah, who stepped up for the injured John Stones in September, although the latter now being fit and in the group. Though, Quansah himself was forced to withdraw on Wednesday because of a knock.

This is how a coach creates a performance-based culture, how he forges connections. Tuchel admired the team supporting the team in Serbia, the unheralded contributors on the bench, and he aimed to recognize them. Bellingham or Loftus‑Cheek? Is that a question? Tuchel has effectively made it one for this session – and he believes in an upside in the message he has delivered. Reputations will not sway him. Being a good teammate will.

Creating a Brotherhood

Coinciding with good timing that Steven Gerrard opened up in an interview with his former England colleague Rio Ferdinand on Tuesday, revealing how egotistical and divided their so-called golden generation squad was. The talent was not in doubt; it was the environment that held them back and Tuchel is set to get this right. He was speaking about a “close-knit group” within the squad before his initial match.

“There’s any animosity between anyone,” Guéhi says. “We are, as we put it when we’re here, the England squad. Whatever has happened in the before or what is occurring in the season, you put that behind. You come here, these become your closest allies, your colleagues, the players that you battle with for as long as you’re here.

“The atmosphere is always positive when we’re here. The FA, previous managers and the squad themselves, the backroom team, have performed a fantastic job at fostering an atmosphere. Then again, it depends on the individuals to truly buy into that. In my opinion every single person has bought into that brilliantly because I love so much being here and I know the others of the players feel the same, too.”

Looking Ahead

What Tuchel expects against Wales is a performance that excites the Wembley crowd. Those versus Albania and Latvia were solid enough; the victories positive, the first steps on the road to the World Cup next year. But they were not thrillers. Will the team build on the intensity they displayed in Serbia? The last thoughts go to Guéhi.

“For me, worrying is a normal human emotion,” he says about not playing in Albania. “But I was selected in that squad. It signifies that the boss has chosen me for this opportunity and whether I’m playing or not I’ll always support the team.

“So personally, fretting can be a waste of time. You only get so many days on this planet. I’d rather be excited and concentrated and assist the teammates that I can – or help myself – by being the finest that I can be rather than stressing.”