Thomas Tuchel aims to bring back the excitement for England after saying their players were weighed down by pressure and “playing not to lose” at the Euros.
England fell at the final hurdle for the second European Championships in a row under Gareth Southgate last summer, finishing runners-up to Spain after a series of underwhelming performances.
Tuchel has been tasked with helping the team take the next step and ending what will be 60 years without a major trophy with victory at next year’s World Cup – but he says to do that the players must be given the freedom to express themselves.
“Watching the Euros, I felt tension and pressure on the shoulders of the players,” Tuchel said, ahead of the World Cup qualifier against Albania at Wembley on Friday.
“It felt they were playing not to lose and have any more pressure added [rather] than [with] the excitement to make something special happen. We need to turn this around.
“I want us to play with the excitement and hunger and joy to win,” he added. “Acceptance of failure is a part of it in football. You want to implement this togetherness and the joy that everyone feels safe to express themselves and give their very best.
“Play with the joy to win and not the fear to lose.”
Kane: We couldn’t find rhythm or energy at Euros
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
England captain Harry Kane explains the differences between Thomas Tuchel and Gareth Southgate
That perception was backed up by England captain Harry Kane, who finished joint-top scorer in the tournament and was a key figure throughout the Southgate era.
“This was the first [tournament where] we were one of the favourites,” he said. “It was clear people expected us to win. We leaned on a lot of experience we had in other tournaments, we couldn’t quite find the rhythm or energy together.
“In one sense it shows how good our character is to still reach a European final, but for sure watching the games back we didn’t have that rhythm we’ve had in other games.
“Thomas has looked at that, he’s looked at loads of games and situations, he’s spoken about interactions with each other on the pitch, about certain moments in games like dropping off, and that’s where you need not just your leaders but everyone in those moments to talk to each other and help each other.
“We’re close, we couldn’t be any closer as a national team and Thomas knows he doesn’t have to change everything, but there’s a few details that if we do change, we’ve got a good chance of being successful next summer.”
Tuchel: ‘We need to make sure everyone knows his role’
Asked how to create that opportunity for players to go out and express themselves, Tuchel said it rests on the structure and understanding each player has about their required role – something he suggests was lost in Germany amid system changes during the tournament.
“Gareth did excellent [in playing players in right positions],” said Tuchel. “At the Euros they were not free enough to express themselves in a stable structure. But England wasn’t the only team to change structure from match to match.
“I think when we play now we need to make sure everyone knows his role on the field, accepts his role and plays disciplined in his role – then comes the freedom and within your space you can look for solutions.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Jordan Pickford says England need to take the next step under new head coach Thomas Tuchel as he looks to go level on caps with childhood hero Joe Hart
“We need to bond a little better, find more rhythm and a little better connections on the field.”
Those bonds started this week, in the first camp of Tuchel’s reign. The German said that while it had been a “crash course” for him in how international weeks work, the quality of the England squad has excited him.
“They reminded me instantly why I was so excited about the job,” said Tuchel of his players. “It’s because of them. They were outstanding in the way they behaved, interacted as a group but also on the pitch. They were amazing. We had high quality, very sharp training sessions. Everybody was open to give their best.
“Good energy, good atmosphere. That’s what I love the most – to be around players and implement ideas on the pitch and adapt to their characters, strengths and talent. It was very good so far.”
Tuchel says players must stay tight while with clubs
But Tuchel also says that work on the squad’s togetherness must continue beyond Friday’s game with Albania and Monday’s match with Latvia if they are to be successful at the World Cup next year.
“We have only six camps and that’s why I was so strong on the point to bond with each other,” he said.
“We need to find it, then it’s my responsibility to keep connected in between camps, be that to visit the players or call them. The players need to stay connected between camps, too, and take care of each other.
“Otherwise, six camps will not be enough to create the special atmosphere and togetherness which will be needed when we arrive in the US.
“Thinking about what we have to do and the outcome will not help us. The only thing that helps is worshipping every single day we have, and the players have done that every single day since Monday.
“It’s been a pleasure to be a part of it, but it’s not over, this is just the start.”
