Thomas Tuchel has insisted that his critical comments toward the England players were necessary following a lacklustre 1-0 win over Andorra on Saturday.
The Three Lions needed a second-half Harry Kane winner to get past the side who are 173rd in FIFA’s world rankings, and the players were booed by their own fans at half-time and full-time.
Following the poor display, Tuchel was quick to lambast his players for their attitude against the minnows, claiming they ‘lacked the seriousness’ needed in what was a World Cup qualifier.
England are set to take on Senegal in a friendly at the City Ground on Tuesday evening, and ahead of the game, Tuchel responded to those who thought he may have been too harsh on his players at the weekend.
‘I protect my players, I said no names of players, it is not an individual matter,’ Tuchel said in a packed press room at St. George’s Park.
‘But as I said, as a team we did not reach our standards and I did not like the last 20 minutes. I felt we didn’t play seriously enough in what we needed to do in a World Cup qualifier.
Thomas Tuchel has claimed that he will not ‘sugarcoat’ his criticism of his England players
The Three Lions produced a lacklustre performance to beat 173rd world-ranked Andorra 1-0
Tuchel did not hold back after the match and stated that he didn’t like the attitude of his players
‘What I have told you I have already told the team directly. Why should we sugarcoat it? You have been in the stadium, why should I tell you that we had a good game? No harm done.
‘We can handle criticism. I have always strongly believed that a group of football players can speak honestly to each other, I include myself. Now it’s on us to do better.
‘The attitude towards training and in camp, the commitment from the players, was outstanding. Everybody wanted to be there, to be involved and to play in this game. We take our analysis from this and try to do better of course.’
‘There is no reason to only look at the negative side of things. After the game, we were critical which is maybe a good thing to improve. It’s a learning at the moment. Today will be our 11th training session together, the same as one-and-a-half weeks in club football.
‘We need to worship training and every minute in matches. Of course, we learn stuff. It’s good to see players in tight situations and in moments when things are not easy.’
With three wins and three clean sheets from his first three matches, Tuchel has had a record-breaking start to life as England boss.
However, the performances on offer have left a lot to be desired, and optimism feels low with the World Cup just 12 months away.
We have yet to see Tuchel’s true imprint on the Three Lions after six months on the job, and the former Chelsea coach admitted he is ‘impatient’ when it comes to waiting for England to adapt to his style of football.
England may have won three games without conceding under Tuchel but they are struggling to adapt to his style
Tuchel revealed that Bukayo Saka is set to start under his management for the first time against Senegal on Tuesday
‘I’m very impatient, which is not always a good thing,’ he continued. ‘I’m always impatient because you step out into a stadium even if the fixture is not always that exciting, after a season fighting for titles, Champions League places.
‘But for me personally, once I step into a good stadium, see the grass, see 7,000 supporters, I’m expecting something from myself and the players.
‘It will be to see tomorrow, I am impatient and I want to do better. We are thinking of giving the players a little more freedom within the structure. I still think it was a very offensive structure and line-up to break the defence down.
‘Tomorrow we face a strong and physically demanding team, but at first, we might not be so offensive but give the players more freedom to express themselves. Maybe on Tuesday, we will see the next step.’
Tuchel revealed that Bukayo Saka is set to start for England under his stewardship for the first time against Senegal, while inferring that Kane will captain a much-changed side.
