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For Marc Guéhi, a fleeting spark of uncertainty was understandable. The Selhurst Park centre‑half had excelled for England at Euro 2024, cementing himself as a key selection under the previous manager, and his status remained secure after Lee Carsley’s spell in the first half of last season.

Enter the new boss, which is worth remembering that this was the coach who had sanctioned Guéhi’s sale from Chelsea to Crystal Palace in the summer of 2021. Guéhi certainly remembered that. Was Tuchel fancy him? When the fresh leadership swept Dan Burn into the lineup for his first game in charge, versus Albania at Wembley in March, leaving Guéhi as an uninvolved reserve, it did not look promising.

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

“I’d say it’s natural for any footballer to almost question that,” Guéhi says, reflecting on his absence from Albania. “As you’d expect, new manager arriving … who knows what the squad’s going to be, who knows who is going to feature?”

The thing Guéhi then did was what he typically does – remain firmly in the present, as balanced as possible. This approach would benefit him during a hectic end to the offseason window when the club chairman, Steve Parish, prevented his planned move to Liverpool.

The next day, Guéhi reported with England for the matches versus Andorra at Villa Park and Serbia in Belgrade and he worked like a man possessed. Not a soul would have been aware about any internal turmoil. It is hard not to see that camp and those games as a pivotal moment for Guéhi, the time when he won Tuchel over. The 25-year-old was selected in each and was particularly impressive in the five-nil win over Serbia, even adding his maiden strike for his country.

The faith cuts both ways. Tuchel has this ability of drawing 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 belief in each of us,” Guéhi says. “Whenever we receive the chance, we aim to show what we can achieve.”

Belief as the Theme

Faith is the focus – and not just because Guéhi is the son of a pastor and deeply Christian. England face Wales in a friendly at Wembley on Thursday night before going 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, quite, the most stunning demonstration of confidence in the players from the previous get‑together, those who had gone to Serbia and sparked Tuchel’s reign. Every one of the 24 who are available have been retained – so not Tino Livramento or Noni Madueke, who have serious injuries. Or Reece James, who was forced to withdraw on Monday because of a more minor one.

Tuchel’s Decisions and Squad Dynamics

His choice to omit the fit-again Jude Bellingham has led the conversation – to the extent that the omission of Phil Foden, who is also back to fitness, has been made as a something of a footnote.

That which should not be overlooked – and what Tuchel does not want ignored – is how he has supported Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who was a late call-up in September to replace the hurt Adam Wharton, despite Loftus-Cheek having surrendered his spot in Milan’s Serie A team. Or how he kept Jarell Quansah, who stepped up for the injured John Stones in September, although the former now being OK and in the squad. However, Quansah himself was forced to withdraw on Wednesday because of a knock.

This is how a coach builds a meritocracy, how he forges bonds. Tuchel loved the team supporting the team in Serbia, the unsung heroes on the bench, and he wanted to recognize them. Bellingham or Loftus‑Cheek? Is it even a question? Tuchel has essentially made it one for this camp – and he sees an upside in the signal he has sent. Past accolades will not sway him. Being a good teammate will.

Building a Brotherhood

Coinciding with perfect timing that Steven Gerrard spoke candidly in an interview with his ex England colleague Rio Ferdinand on Tuesday, disclosing how self-centered and divided their much-hyped golden generation squad was. The talent was not in question; it was the atmosphere that limited them and Tuchel is set to fix this. He was talking about a “close-knit group” within the team before his first game.

“There isn’t any animosity between anybody,” Guéhi says. “We are, as we put it when we’re here, Team England. Whatever has happened in the past or whatever is going on in the season, you put that behind. You come here, these become your closest allies, your teammates, the players that you go to war with for however long you’re here.

“The atmosphere is always positive when we’re here. The football association, past coaches and the squad themselves, the staff, have performed a fantastic job at creating an atmosphere. Then again, it depends on the individuals to truly buy into that. In my opinion each member has bought into that superbly because I enjoy so much being here and I am sure the others of the lads feel the same, too.”

Future Focus

What Tuchel wants versus Wales is a showing that stirs the Wembley crowd. Those against Albania and Latvia were steady enough; the wins positive, the initial progress on the path to the World Cup next year. But they were not thrillers. Will the side build on the intensity they displayed in Serbia? The last thoughts belong to Guéhi.

“For me, anxiety is a natural human emotion,” he states about not playing against Albania. “But I was picked in that squad. It means that the manager has chosen me for this chance and if I’m playing or not I’ll still back the team.

“So personally, worrying can be a futile effort. You only get so many moments on this planet. I prefer to be excited and concentrated and assist the teammates that I can – or improve personally – by striving to be the best that I can be instead of stressing.”