England manager search: Is master tactician Thomas Tuchel the manager to carry Three Lions to glory?
Thomas Tuchel is set to take on the role of England's manager. But does the German coach possess the necessary skills and qualities to bring home trophies for the national team?
In this section, we take a closer look at his remarkable career so far, especially his period at Chelsea, to understand what insights it provides regarding his future as he leads the Three Lions. This includes…
How Tuchel Built His Chelsea Legacy
COVID-19. The Premier League. Russia's conflict with Ukraine. Seizing assets. An acquisition.
Thomas Tuchel is well-prepared to handle the intense scrutiny, heavy responsibilities, and various issues that come with being the manager of England, thanks to his experience at Chelsea.
Although acting England manager Lee Carsley has found it challenging to handle media scrutiny, often providing unclear responses regarding his interest in the permanent position—especially after addressing his choice not to sing the national anthem—Tuchel, on the other hand, excels when dealing with the press.
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It's difficult to picture a more challenging situation for a football manager off the pitch than what he encountered at Chelsea. Yet, throughout his tenure at Stamford Bridge, the German consistently showcased honesty, integrity, and charisma in his press conferences. This represented commendable leadership in incredibly tough times.
Tuchel deserves recognition for the fact that when he was let go by Todd Boehly and others in September 2022, his standing had actually improved. This was true both for his coaching abilities and his role as a prominent face of the football club.
Having worked with prestigious clubs like Borussia Dortmund, Paris Saint-Germain, and most recently Bayern Munich, few managers have a better understanding of the intense scrutiny players at the highest levels of football experience, along with the unique challenges they encounter.
The position of England manager is likely the most heavily examined of any coaching role, yet Tuchel is more than ready for the challenge.
Many fans in England may feel let down that the FA has chosen another foreign manager for the national team. However, there are valid reasons to feel optimistic about the potential contributions Tuchel can offer.
A Champions League champion. A Bundesliga victor and treble winner in France. Yet, beyond the trophies and accolades, this coach possesses the ability to delve into intricate tactical strategies, inspire and bring players together for the team's mission, and handle media communications effectively. He meets every requirement.
Myth-Busting: Is Tuchel Really Defensive?
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"You don't have any understanding of football."
The typical intense gaze of Louis van Gaal was on display when he criticized a journalist who claimed that Tuchel was adopting a defensive style of play at Chelsea.
In September 2021, during the international break, Chelsea's smart victory in the Champions League final against Manchester City was still vivid in everyone's minds. They had allowed City to control the ball but secured the win with a quick goal from Kai Havertz. While Pep Guardiola's team struggled to find the back of the net, Louis van Gaal criticized perceptions of Thomas Tuchel's coaching style. He pointed out that the 5-3-2 formation can be quite effective for attack, praising Tuchel for successfully employing it.
Tuchel laughed while we talked about that viral video during a meeting at Chelsea's Cobham training facility a few days later. "I really appreciate his straightforwardness," Tuchel remarked about Van Gaal, the ex-Manchester United manager.
Gareth Southgate faced significant criticism for his approach to the game while managing the England national team. It would have been difficult to imagine that an England coach could lead the team to two consecutive European Championship finals and still face backlash. However, the expectations are high: fans want victories that are not only frequent but also convincing. There’s a strong desire to capitalize on the remarkable attacking skills of this generation, all while ensuring the kind of balance that was clearly missing in the match against Greece, which Carsley couldn't achieve.
Can Tuchel be the coach who brings excitement and success? Or will he be seen as too cautious, similar to Southgate?
"What exactly do we mean by defensive and offensive? It's a topic that could spark debates for hours, weeks, or even years," he remarked as we continued our conversation about football philosophy.
"To me, it's about keeping ourselves engaged and active. Take the Champions League final as an example: we didn't have much of the ball, and given Man City's skills, we certainly had to focus on defending. However, we never just sat back and let them attack without a response. We didn't just throw up a wall in front of our goal and do nothing."
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"I played a few matches with PSG in Paris where we dominated possession of the ball," Tuchel said. "However, we struggled to pick up the pace and move quickly during certain games. It seemed like we were in control, but it didn't translate into an attacking style of play."
What exactly is attacking football? A prime example of an effective transition team is Jurgen Klopp's squads at Dortmund and Liverpool in recent years. There are times when they might not control the ball for long periods, but you can witness their rapid counterattacks. These quick assaults on the opponent are often made possible because they have previously set up a solid defense.
It's crucial for the gameplay to be appealing, dynamic, and intense. These qualities should be evident in every aspect of the game, whether you're defending or on the offensive.
These are the core principles that underpin Tuchel's approach to football.
That interview—just one of several with Tuchel during his brief yet eventful tenure as Chelsea's manager—followed an impressive defensive effort at Anfield. Chelsea had been ahead against Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool until Reece James received a red card just before the end of the first half, leading to a penalty that equalized the score. Remarkably, Chelsea managed to hold off Liverpool for the entire second half, even with only 10 players.
Tuchel attributed the draw to the strong sense of camaraderie within the team, describing it as "the bond that keeps everything unified. It's something you can't quantify, but it's essential."
I believe England currently has a solid coach, and the team itself is both powerful and full of talent. I'm confident they'll perform well in the World Cup.
The task ahead is to forge connections and establish resistance points similar to those seen in global football, especially since the time spent with players is significantly less compared to regular club interactions. However, the sight of Tuchel walking back and forth in the Anfield locker room, striking his fist into his palm and urging his team with a determined "let's go, we can make this happen" at half-time, even when the odds are stacked against them, is a striking image.
On game days, Tuchel transforms his demeanor. Insiders say he moves away from his typical playful and humorous self to adopt a more focused and straightforward approach.
The energy he exudes on those critical days is intense and difficult to ignore. He shared with me in another chat, "After a late game, while everyone else was sleeping, I found it impossible to fall asleep until 2 or 3 in the morning because of all the emotions. I often had to go for a run to release that energy, and then it was much easier for me to sleep."
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Running offers an escape. In addition to his late-night training sessions after games, Tuchel often goes for morning runs. This quest for overall well-being reflects the mindset he applies to both his coaching style and his daily living.
"It's really all about self-discipline," explains the trim ex-player. "It's about the expectations you set for yourself. That's crucial… and it can be quite tough for me because I have a tendency to procrastinate and often come up with excuses to avoid going for a run or getting up early!"
I make an effort to establish morning routines that encourage me to wake up early and exercise daily. Pushing myself in this way requires a level of self-discipline that not only makes me more dependable but also promotes a healthier lifestyle and improves my recovery time.
"For a long time, I thought that if I tried this, I'd end up sleeping through the entire morning. But in reality, it's the opposite! I feel so much better when I actually do it."
Given the glimpse into Tuchel's mentality, it's understandable that throughout his coaching career he has had clashes with players or executives who fail to meet his high standards and expectations.
Thomas Tuchel had a notable disagreement with CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke during his time at Borussia Dortmund, which even resulted in the banning of chief scout Sven Mislintat from the training facility. At Paris Saint-Germain, he had a highly publicized confrontation with Kylian Mbappe during a match, but his more significant conflicts were with sporting director Leonardo. His tenure at Chelsea ended when his relationship with owner Todd Boehly soured. There were also issues at Bayern Munich, where an altercation with Joshua Kimmich is said to have played a role in Tuchel's departure.
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Although Tuchel is often seen as divisive and confrontational, sources argue that this image does not accurately represent the relationships he fosters. He had strong partnerships with former Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia and technical advisor Petr Cech. Additionally, the Chelsea players trusted him completely and followed his guidance, which was clear during their impressive Champions League victory.
Some players were unable to participate, but the team came together as a cohesive unit.
With player trading taken out of the equation and Tuchel given near-total authority over the team's management, the chances of major conflicts and disagreements are likely to decrease.
In Win Or Loss
It's no surprise that a manager like Tuchel, who openly expresses his emotions on the sidelines—like that memorable handshake with Antonio Conte—would feel deeply affected by the cup final losses to Liverpool, especially since both were decided by penalties.
It's fascinating to see how Tuchel handled his biggest achievement. After winning the Champions League final against Man City in Porto, he chose to take a back seat and let his players shine. He even gave his winners' medal to a staff member, although he got it back later. "It's amazing to share this moment with everyone. We did it. Wow. I'm not sure how to process this," he said to the press, a year after losing in the same final with PSG.
This could be seen as a sign of Tuchel's more reserved personality. He is a hardworking coach who analyzes Expected Goals statistics to grasp patterns in his team's performance. A true football enthusiast, he spends his free time watching games from various leagues in Europe. When all his efforts finally lead to success, he prefers to let others take the credit and be celebrated.
Tuchel spoke about his extensive experience with data analysis and expected goals (xG)...
"We’ve known about it for quite a while, and now it’s been shared publicly. I believe that’s a positive thing because it offers a clearer perspective on your performance."
As with any statistic, the more you dig into it, the clearer your reference points become. We understand the expected goals average for a season or half a season based on specific playing styles. If we notice a sudden increase in these numbers, it prompts us to wonder, "What's going on within the team's structure?"
"If we admit that we've given away twice as much, it might seem like we're having an incredibly unfortunate run right now. Clearly, the level of quality we let slip shouldn't lead to so many losses, yet we continue to do so."
Tuchel definitely enjoys diving into the intricacies of his coaching practices. He has the luxury of spending weeks and even months evaluating players, analyzing roles and partnerships, and planning training sessions within the realm of international football.
It's yet to be determined if this will help him or hinder the growth of his ideas, but his approach has earned him respect in the sport. Klopp, a well-known figure in coaching, is among his admirers. The ex-Liverpool manager remarked, "He’s an amazing coach; you can truly see the impact he has." This is in reference to the individual who took over after him at both Mainz and Dortmund.
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When he steps in to lead England, many people quickly assume he'll revert to a back-three formation. This strategy brought Southgate early victories, but it appeared necessary to shift away from it for the team to progress further.
However, just because that was the formation Tuchel favored during his most successful time at Chelsea, it doesn’t mean he is committed to it exclusively.
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During most of his time at Borussia Dortmund, PSG, and Bayern Munich, he employed a four-man defense. However, what truly defines Tuchel's strategies is his ability to be flexible and adaptable.
The roles of players on the field are being redefined. For example, imagine Ruben Loftus-Cheek taking on the challenge of marking Vinicius Jnr from Real Madrid while playing as a wing-back at the Bernabeu. The way positional roles are interpreted is also evolving. At PSG, full-backs often play high and wide, while Chelsea uses wing-backs differently. Meanwhile, Dortmund's full-backs tend to move into central positions instead of simply overlapping, and Bayern employs an inverted approach. Additionally, having wing-backs contribute to a back five has become a common strategy in major matches.
At Chelsea, the strategy involved using two players in front of the defense. Tuchel focused on increasing his team's ball possession while also safeguarding against counterattacks. In contrast, at Bayern, he opted for just one defensive midfielder, as the team usually controlled possession in their matches.
Will Angel Gomes keep his spot on the England team? Or will Tuchel opt for Declan Rice, who displayed a more attacking style during the recent match against Finland?
Tuchel's defensive midfield is bolstered by proactive defenders who advance from the center-back position. With players like John Stones, Marc Guehi, and Levi Colwill, he would certainly have solid choices to replicate that approach.
It will be fascinating to see what he thinks about Harry Maguire, particularly since he supported Eric Dier even when Dier was no longer in favor at Tottenham. Meanwhile, Harry Kane achieved his highest goal-scoring rate last season while playing under Tuchel. Anticipate that the England captain will continue to be the main focus of the team's offense.
What are the main issues at hand?
Reflecting on his period at Chelsea, it's clear that losing Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen impacted both the team and Tuchel significantly. Their defensive statistics took a noticeable downturn during the latter half of his time in charge.
In the closing months of his time at the club, Tuchel tended to complicate things or look for unconventional answers to problems. His use of a 4-4-2 formation resulted in losses to Southampton and Leeds, and in his last match against Dinamo Zagreb, he made the odd decision to place Hakim Ziyech in the left wing-back position.
Scoring goals was a problem as well. Under his management, Chelsea managed to score more than two goals in a game only 20 times throughout his 100 matches. In contrast, Liverpool accomplished this feat on 32 occasions, while Pep Guardiola's Manchester City did it 58 times.
Scoring goals wasn’t an issue in their last match against Bayern, as the team was the highest scorer last season, netting 94 goals over the course of 34 games.
Similar to how he handles press conferences, Tuchel typically finds a way to deliver a strong performance on the field in response to his critics.
Once he takes on the role of England manager, he'll certainly face many challenges. Just look at Southgate for reference. However, Tuchel has the ability to elevate this team beyond what his predecessor achieved.
