Jude Bellingham: Thomas Tuchel’s relationship with Real Madrid could determine England star Questions remain | Football news

How Thomas Tuchel handles Jude Bellingham could define his time as England head coach, and ultimately could have a major impact on how far England go at next summer’s World Cup.

That’s how important the dynamic between the national team manager and the country’s biggest star is.

And although Tuchel says directly, there is no problem between him and Bellingham, there is still some ambiguity around the player’s role with England, how he integrates with his team-mates, and how completely different the atmosphere within the team is when he is not around.

Bellingham has strict standards. It’s perfect. He demands the best all around him.

That was evident in the Euro final in Berlin, when he took advantage of Gareth Southgate on the touchline, midway through the game, to not make the tactical changes that he – as a 21-year-old player – thought were necessary.

Anthony Gordon has spoken candidly about how the England camp is a different place, with and without Bellingham.

“You definitely notice when he’s not here because he’s a big presence, such a big player,” Newcastle’s Winger said.

“But he was injured, he had a tough couple of months, and it was probably a good thing to be honest, because he’s played a lot of football for his age.”

Gordon is absolutely right. Bellingham has already played 282 times for the club and earned 44 caps – which is unusual for a 22-year-old.

Gordon also makes a relevant point when he points out Bellingham missing September camp due to a shoulder operation, and that he is still working his way to full fitness. Tuchel was right when he said the No.10 has yet to play the full 90 minutes for Real Madrid since his surgery.

But, on the contrary, he has been fit enough to feature in five Madrid matches in 15 days, and there is an argument that he needs game time right now, for club and country, in order to regain full fitness, after playing nine weeks of football in the wake of the club’s World Cup.

Crucially, fitness was not the reason Tuchel did not leave Bellingham out, however The player himself made it clear to his boss that he wanted to join.

The England President’s honesty and brilliant move with the media should applaud. It would have been easy for Tuchel to say Bellingham wasn’t fully fit, so everyone thought it was best to sit this one out.

Instead, he told us he decided to leave Bellingham at home. It looked like a snub, but Tuchel insisted it was only right that, following Serbia’s impressive rumble in Belgrade last month, the team had earned themselves the right to have another. This is where there is an obvious contradiction.

Tuchel has repeatedly pampered the lack of time he gets with his players to build up to the extravaganza in North America next summer.

Currently taking charge on New Year’s Day, Tuchel noted that he has only had six international camps to get to know his players, work closely with them on and off the pitch, spend time with them, build a philosophy and play them into World Cup contenders.

That seems at odds with his decision this time around to leave some of the biggest names, which will certainly depend on next June.

In addition to Bellingham, you could include Phil Foden in this assessment for sure, perhaps Jack Grealish, and perhaps Adam Wharton.

Consider also that Tuchel felt that John Stones’ presence was so vital and was so admired in and around the England squad, that he invited the Manchester City defender to come with the squad to the summer training camp near Barcelona, ​​even though he was injured and unable to join in on the turf.

Tuchel wanted him around the place, building a bond. No such invitation has been extended to Bellingham this time, when he is fully training.

Tuchel is still adjusting to life as an international manager, and has spoken at length about how it is a struggle not to have the daily contact with his players that he always had at club level.

Why then, when you have such limited time, would you obviously drop a generational talent like Bellingham and not include him in your plans?

Bellingham has played in just four games under Tuchel so far. Now that this camp has been lost, there is a maximum of four more England games to come before the head coach has to choose his World Cup team.

We are not privy to the conversation between Tuchel and Bellingham on the phone last week. All we know is what the England boss told us: that the Real Madrid star made it clear he was fit and wanted to join his country, only for the German coach to tell him he would not be selected this time.

Tuchel was sticking to his guns, and he kept his word to the team at the end of the Serbia game in September, when, after the team’s best performance since taking charge, he said he would bring them all back in October.

The costs of that promise in terms of the relationship with Bellingham may not be fully understood until we get to the World Cup.

This international break was the first opportunity for both men to sit down and clear the air, and discuss what happened four months ago, when Tuchel said his mother was “repulsed” at times by Bellingham’s behavior on the pitch.

Tuchel has since apologized for those comments – publicly, and to Billingham in private – and clarifies that he meant no offense, and chose his words by mistake.

He was hurt when I brought the topic up again at another press conference in England. But the fact of the matter is that the two men have not been together in person since then, and while a call-up was not possible in last month’s break as Bellingham was injured, Tuchel has pointedly rejected the opportunity for a face-to-face reunion now.

The England manager often says that he does not need to see many of England’s “special” players in person, in camp, because he is fully aware of what players like Grealish, Foden and Harry Maguire can do.

He does not apply the same philosophy to the England captain, however, who is always rooting for his country even when he is struggling, as is the case now.

Harry Kane had to sit through some antics in a livelier recovery session at St George’s Park on Monday, as his body aches towards a friendly with Wales on Thursday.

So why did Tuchel feel it necessary to have Kane part of the group, with his exceptional leadership skills and record-breaking performance, but not Bellingham? Most England fans would agree that both players are vital to England’s chances at the next World Cup.

When he is away with England, Bellingham’s closest companions are Jordan Henderson and Trent Alexander-Arnold. Trent is now injured, and there are no guarantees he will make the plane for next summer’s World Cup with so much competition in the right.

As for Henderson, it is a key part of his role in England, setting standards on and off the pitch, and involving younger players.

This support network around Bellingham is vital in getting the best out of you. Tuchel is fully aware of this when he chooses his team.

It is important to reiterate that the England coach insists he has a good relationship with Bellingham. I asked him that question live at Wembley, and with a stern look in my direction, he gave an unequivocal and telling reply.

The last thing Thomas Tuchel wants is for outsiders to raise tensions and question his relationship with a player so vital to his and England’s fortunes.

But after Tuchel’s bizarre comments in the summer, and his equally surprising decision to leave Bellingham from the England squad this year, those doubts will remain.