Marc Guéhi Puts Aside Worries in the Past, Winning Thomas Tuchel’s Confidence and Claiming His Three Lions Place

For Marc Guéhi, a momentary flicker of self-doubt was understandable. The Crystal Palace defender had shone for England at the European Championships, establishing himself as a first-choice selection under the previous manager, and his standing remained intact after Lee Carsley’s spell in the first half of last season.

Then came the new boss, which is worth remembering that this was the coach who had approved Guéhi’s sale from Chelsea to Crystal Palace in the summer of 2021. Guéhi certainly remembered that. Was Tuchel rate him? When the new broom brought Dan Burn into the starting XI for his first game in charge, versus Albania at Wembley in March, with Guéhi as an uninvolved reserve, it did not look promising.

Tuchel selected Guéhi in the next game, against Latvia, also at Wembley, before he was not able to select him for his second camp in June, which included the matches versus Andorra away and Senegal in Nottingham. Guéhi had suffered an eye injury during his club’s historic FA Cup final win against Manchester City.

“I’d say it’s normal for any footballer to almost question that,” Guéhi says, looking back at his absence from Albania. “You know, fresh coach arriving … it’s unclear what the squad’s going to be, it’s unknown who is going to play?”

What Guéhi then did was exactly what he typically does – stay firmly in the moment, as composed as he could be. Which would serve him well during a hectic end to the summer transfer window when the club chairman, Steve Parish, prevented his proposed transfer to Liverpool.

The next day, Guéhi joined up with England for the games against Andorra at Villa Park and Serbia in Belgrade and he worked like a demon. Nobody would have been aware about any internal turmoil. It is hard not to see that camp and those games as a pivotal moment for Guéhi, the period when he earned Tuchel over. The young defender started in each and was particularly impressive in the five-nil win over Serbia, even adding his first international goal.

The trust cuts both ways. Tuchel has this knack of drawing players in, of empowering them; it was one of the main reasons why the FA hired him. “I think what the gaffer has done is show a lot of faith in every single one of us,” Guéhi says. “Whenever we do get the chance, we aim to show what we can achieve.”

Faith as the Central Idea

Faith is the theme – and not only because Guéhi is the child of a church minister and devoutly Christian. England face Wales in a exhibition at Wembley on Thursday night before going to Riga to face Latvia in their sixth World Cup qualifying tie next Tuesday and Tuchel has framed it all with his player choices.

It was, simply, the most remarkable demonstration of confidence in the players from the last camp, those who had traveled to Serbia and ignited Tuchel’s tenure. Every one of the 24 who are fit have been kept – so excluding Tino Livramento or Noni Madueke, who have long-term issues. Or Reece James, who was obliged to pull out on Monday because of a more minor one.

The Manager’s Decisions and Team Dynamics

His choice to overlook the returned Jude Bellingham has led the conversation – to the extent that the exclusion of Phil Foden, who is also fully recovered, has been made as a bit of a footnote.

That which should not be ignored – and what Tuchel does not want ignored – is how he has supported Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who was a late call-up in September to replace the injured Adam Wharton, even though Loftus-Cheek having surrendered his place in Milan’s Serie A team. Or how he kept Jarell Quansah, who came in for the injured John Stones in September, despite the former now being OK and in the squad. Though, Quansah himself was compelled to withdraw on Wednesday because of a knee injury.

Here is how a manager 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 reward them. Bellingham or Loftus‑Cheek? Is that a question? Tuchel has effectively made it one for this session – and he believes in an positive in the message he has delivered. Past accolades will not influence him. Acting as a good teammate will.

Creating a Brotherhood

It was with perfect timing that Steven Gerrard spoke candidly in an interview with his former England teammate Rio Ferdinand on Tuesday, revealing how egotistical and clique-ridden their much-hyped talented era squad was. The ability was not in doubt; it was the environment that limited them and Tuchel is determined to fix this. He was talking about a “close-knit group” within the team before his initial match.

“There’s any animosity between anybody,” Guéhi explains. “We are, as we say when we’re here, the England squad. Whatever has gone on in the past or what is occurring in the campaign, you leave that aside. You arrive here, these become your best friends, your colleagues, the players that you battle with for as long as you’re here.

“The environment is always great when we’re here. The football association, previous managers and the squad themselves, the staff, have done a fantastic job at creating an spirit. Additionally, it depends on the individuals to actually embrace that. I think each member has bought into that brilliantly because I enjoy immensely coming here and I know the rest of the lads do, too.”

Future Focus

What Tuchel wants against Wales is a performance that stirs the Wembley crowd. Those against Albania and Latvia were steady sufficient; the wins welcome, the first steps on the road to the World Cup next summer. But they were not pulse‑quickeners. Will the side build on the intensity they showed in Serbia? The last thoughts belong to Guéhi.

“In my case, worrying is a natural feeling,” he states about being benched in Albania. “But I was picked in that group. It means that the boss has opted for me for this chance and whether I’m starting or not I’ll always back the team.

“So personally, fretting can be a waste of time. You don’t have many days on this planet. I’d rather be positive and concentrated and help the people that I can – or help myself – by striving to be the finest that I can be rather than stressing.”