Thomas Tuchel was wrong to criticise Gareth Southgate’s approach, writes CHRIS SUTTON – the new England boss should name names after questioning players’ hunger to win
- Thomas Tuchel was not impressed by how England had played at Euro 2024
- Tuchel’s comments were a clear criticism of his predecessor Gareth Southgate
- LISTEN NOW: It’s All Kicking Off! Is England’s squad good enough to win the World Cup?
No one can listen to what Thomas Tuchel said and hear anything but a two-footer on Gareth Southgate. No clear playing style, no clarity, no rhythm, no repetition of patterns.
If Southgate hears that, you can’t imagine he’ll be too enamoured. He’ll think it’s harsh. I think it’s unnecessary and unfair.
When Tuchel says that England team at Euro 2024 was missing an identity, I don’t think that’s fair on Gareth. He always had a balanced approach that maybe didn’t always thrill the masses but we know the way he wanted England to play and we know the issues he had in various positions even if it was often horses for courses against certain teams.
While the first half of what Tuchel said is a clear criticism of Gareth, to go on to say he watched a team that was more afraid to get knocked out of the tournament than have the hunger to go on and win it… that’s on the players. That’s questioning their character.
If you’re going to say that, name names.
Tuchel’s current squad is made up of many of the same players who got to the Euros final under Southgate. There will be players in that group who will be annoyed hearing their new manager criticise their professionalism like that.
Thomas Tuchel’s criticism of England’s Euros campaign was a two-footer on Gareth Southgate
Tuchel should name names after questioning England’s hunger to go out and win the Euros
Some players will be encouraged by Tuchel’s talk about making England the team to beat
Others, though, will be encouraged by what he says. They will like to hear Tuchel being forthright and honest and ambitious.
All his talk about having more touches in the opposition box, more attacks, more high recoveries, making England the team to beat, they will love that. That will be music to their ears. That’s what fans want to see too. They want to see England on the front foot.
It shows he’s up for the job and backs himself. He’s had a successful career in recent times and coaches some of the biggest names in world football even if he didn’t see eye-to-eye with everyone at the end of his time at Chelsea and Bayern Munich.
Coming out with language like that shows he believes in himself and in the players he has – but saying it and implementing it are two very different things.
