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For Marc Guéhi, a momentary spark of uncertainty was natural. The Selhurst Park defender had excelled for England at Euro 2024, cementing himself as a key selection under Gareth Southgate, and his standing remained intact after Lee Carsley’s spell in the initial part of last season.

Then came Thomas Tuchel, which is important to recall that this was the manager who had sanctioned Guéhi’s sale from Stamford Bridge to Crystal Palace in the summer of 2021. Guéhi certainly remembered that. Was Tuchel rate him? When the fresh leadership swept Dan Burn into the starting XI for his first game in charge, against Albania at Wembley in March, leaving Guéhi as an unused substitute, it wasn’t great.

The manager started Guéhi in the following game, against Latvia, also at Wembley, before he was unable to pick him for his next gathering in June, which included the fixtures against Andorra away and Senegal in Nottingham. Guéhi had sustained an facial knock during Palace’s historic FA Cup final win against Manchester City.

“In my opinion it’s natural for any footballer to almost question that,” Guéhi states, looking back at his absence against Albania. “You know, fresh coach arriving … who knows what the team’s going to look like, it’s unknown who is going to feature?”

The thing Guéhi did next was what he typically does – remain firmly in the present, as balanced as he could be. Which would benefit him during a dramatic end to the summer transfer window when the club chairman, Steve Parish, blocked his planned transfer to Liverpool.

The following day, Guéhi joined up with England for the games versus Andorra at Villa Park and Serbia in Belgrade and he worked like a demon. Nobody would have been aware about any personal doubts. It is hard not to see that camp and those games as a pivotal moment for Guéhi, the time when he won Tuchel around. The young defender was selected in both and was especially good in the five-nil win over Serbia, even contributing his maiden strike for his country.

The faith cuts both ways. Tuchel has this knack of drawing players in, of empowering them; it was one of the main factors why the FA hired him. “In my view what the manager has achieved is show a lot of belief in every single one of us,” Guéhi says. “Any time we do get the chance, we want to display what we can do.”

Belief as the Theme

Trust is the focus – and not just because Guéhi is the child of a church minister and devoutly Christian. England meet Wales in a exhibition at Wembley on Thursday night before traveling to Riga to face Latvia in their sixth World Cup qualifier next Tuesday and Tuchel has shaped it all with his squad selection.

It was, simply, the most remarkable show of support in the players from the previous camp, those who had gone to Serbia and sparked Tuchel’s tenure. Each of the 24 who are available have been kept – so not 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

Tuchel’s decision to omit the returned Jude Bellingham has led the discourse – to the extent that the exclusion of Phil Foden, who is also fully recovered, has been rendered as a something of a afterthought.

What must 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 hurt Adam Wharton, even though Loftus-Cheek having lost his spot in Milan’s Serie A team. Or how he retained Jarell Quansah, who stepped up for the injured John Stones in September, despite the former now being fit and in the squad. However, Quansah himself was forced to withdraw on Wednesday because of a knock.

This is how a coach creates a meritocracy, how he builds connections. Tuchel loved the unit supporting the team in Serbia, the unsung heroes on the bench, and he wanted to reward them. Bellingham or Loftus‑Cheek? Is it even a question? Tuchel has essentially made it one for this session – and he sees an upside in the message he has delivered. Reputations will not influence him. Being a good teammate will.

Creating a Strong Unit

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

“There isn’t any animosity between anyone,” Guéhi explains. “We are, as we put it when we’re here, the England squad. Whatever has gone on in the before or whatever is occurring in the season, you leave that aside. You arrive here, these become your closest allies, your colleagues, the guys that you battle with for however long you’re here.

“The atmosphere is consistently great when we’re here. The FA, past coaches and the squad themselves, the backroom team, have done a excellent role at fostering an spirit. Then again, it depends on the players to actually buy into that. I think every single person has accepted that superbly because I enjoy immensely being here and I am sure the others of the lads do, too.”

Looking Ahead

That which Tuchel wants versus Wales is a performance that excites the Wembley crowd. Those against Albania and Latvia were solid enough; the wins welcome, the first steps on the path to the World Cup next year. But they were not thrillers. Can the team continue the intensity they displayed in Serbia? The final words belong to Guéhi.

“For me, anxiety is a natural human emotion,” he says about being benched against Albania. “But I was picked in that group. It signifies that the manager has opted for me for this chance and whether I’m starting or not I’ll still back the team.

“So personally, worrying can be a waste of time. You don’t have many days on this earth. I’d rather be positive and focused and help the teammates that I can – or help myself – by striving to be the finest that I can be instead of worrying.”