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For Marc Guéhi, a momentary flicker of self-doubt was natural. The Crystal Palace centre‑half had shone for England at the European Championships, cementing himself as a key pick under Gareth Southgate, and his standing remained secure after the caretaker coach’s tenure in the first half of last season.

Enter the new boss, and it is worth remembering that this was the coach who had approved Guéhi’s sale from Chelsea to Crystal Palace in the offseason of 2021. Guéhi definitely remembered that. Did Tuchel fancy him? When the fresh leadership brought another defender into the starting XI for his first game in charge, against Albania at Wembley in March, leaving Guéhi as an unused substitute, it did not look great.

The manager selected Guéhi in the following game, versus Latvia, again at Wembley, before he was not able to select him for his next gathering in June, which took in the matches versus Andorra away and Senegal in Nottingham. Guéhi had sustained an facial knock during Palace’s memorable FA Cup final win over Manchester City.

“In my opinion it’s normal for every player to practically doubt that,” Guéhi states, looking back at his omission from Albania. “You know, fresh coach arriving … it’s unclear what the squad’s going to look like, it’s unknown who’s going to feature?”

The thing Guéhi did next was what he typically does – stay completely in the moment, as composed as possible. This approach would serve him well during a dramatic end to the summer transfer window when the Palace chair, Steve Parish, prevented his planned transfer to Liverpool.

The next day, Guéhi joined up with England for the games versus Andorra at Villa Park and Serbia in Belgrade and he trained like a demon. Not a soul would have been aware about any personal doubts. It is difficult not to see that camp and those matches as a pivotal moment for Guéhi, the time when he won Tuchel over. The 25-year-old started in each and was especially good in the 5-0 win over Serbia, even adding his first international goal.

The faith works both ways. Tuchel has this ability of bringing players in, of empowering them; it was a primary reasons why the FA appointed him. “I think what the manager has done is show a lot of faith in each of us,” Guéhi comments. “Any time we receive the chance, we aim to show what we can do.”

Belief as the Theme

Faith is the theme – and not only because Guéhi is the child of a church minister and devoutly Christian. England meet 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 player choices.

It was, simply, the most remarkable show of support in the players from the last get‑together, those who had traveled to Serbia and sparked Tuchel’s reign. Each 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 less serious one.

Tuchel’s Choices and Squad Dynamics

His decision to omit the returned Jude Bellingham has led the conversation – to the point that the omission of Phil Foden, who is also fully recovered, has been made as a something of a footnote.

What should not be ignored – and what Tuchel hopes won’t be ignored – is how he has supported Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who was a last-minute addition in September to replace the injured Adam Wharton, despite Loftus-Cheek having lost his place in Milan’s Serie A side. Or how he kept Jarell Quansah, who came in for the injured John Stones in September, despite the latter now being OK and in the group. However, Quansah himself was forced to withdraw on Wednesday because of a knee injury.

This is how a coach creates a performance-based culture, how he builds bonds. Tuchel admired the unit supporting the team in Serbia, the unheralded contributors on the bench, and he wanted to reward them. Bellingham or Loftus‑Cheek? Is that a question? Tuchel has essentially turned it into one for this camp – and he sees an upside in the message he has delivered. Reputations will not influence him. Acting as a good teammate will.

Creating a Brotherhood

Coinciding with perfect timing that Steven Gerrard spoke candidly in an discussion with his former England teammate Rio Ferdinand on Tuesday, disclosing how self-centered and clique-ridden their so-called talented era team was. The ability was not in doubt; it was the atmosphere that limited them and Tuchel is determined to fix this. He was speaking about a “close-knit group” within the team before his initial match.

“There isn’t any animosity between anyone,” Guéhi says. “We are, as we say when we’re here, Team England. Whatever has happened in the before or whatever is occurring in the campaign, you leave that aside. You come here, these are your best friends, your colleagues, the guys that you go to war with for as long as you’re here.

“The environment is consistently positive when we’re here. The football association, previous managers and the players themselves, the backroom team, have done a fantastic job at creating an atmosphere. Then again, it comes down to the individuals to actually embrace that. I think each member has bought into that superbly because I enjoy so much coming here and I am sure the rest of the lads do, too.”

Future Focus

What Tuchel expects versus Wales is a showing that stirs the Wembley fans. Those versus Albania and Latvia were steady sufficient; the wins positive, the first steps on the road to the World Cup next year. But they were not pulse‑quickeners. Will the side build on the cut and thrust they showed in Serbia? The final words go to Guéhi.

“For me, worrying is a normal feeling,” he states about not playing in Albania. “But I was selected in that group. It signifies that the manager has chosen me for this chance and whether I’m playing or not I’ll always back the team.

“So for me, fretting can be a futile effort. You don’t have many moments on this earth. I prefer to be positive and concentrated and help the teammates that I can – or improve personally – by striving to be the best that I can be rather than stressing.”