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In the case of Marc Guéhi, a fleeting spark of self-doubt was understandable. The Selhurst Park defender had excelled for England at Euro 2024, establishing himself as a key selection under the previous manager, and his status remained intact after the caretaker coach’s spell in the initial part of last season.

Enter the new boss, which is worth remembering that this was the manager who had sanctioned Guéhi’s transfer from Stamford Bridge to Palace in the summer of 2021. Guéhi certainly recalled that. Did Tuchel rate him? When the fresh leadership brought Dan Burn into the starting XI for his debut in charge, versus Albania at Wembley in March, leaving Guéhi as an uninvolved reserve, it wasn’t great.

The manager started Guéhi in the following game, against Latvia, also at Wembley, before he was unable to select him for his next gathering in June, which included the matches versus Andorra on the road and Senegal in Nottingham. Guéhi had sustained an facial knock during Palace’s memorable FA Cup final victory over Manchester City.

“In my opinion it’s normal for every player to almost doubt that,” Guéhi says, looking back at his absence from Albania. “As you’d expect, new manager arriving … who knows what the team’s going to look like, who knows who is going to feature?”

The thing Guéhi did next was exactly what he always does – stay completely in the moment, as balanced as he could be. Which would benefit him during a dramatic end to the offseason window when the Palace chair, Steve Parish, blocked his proposed transfer to Liverpool.

The next day, Guéhi reported with England for the matches against Andorra at Villa Park and Serbia in Belgrade and he worked like a man possessed. Not a soul would have known about any internal turmoil. It is difficult not to see that gathering and those games as a turning point for Guéhi, the time when he earned Tuchel over. The young defender started in each and was especially good in the 5-0 win over Serbia, even adding his maiden strike for his country.

The trust works both ways. Tuchel has this knack of drawing players in, of empowering them; it was a primary factors why the Football Association hired him. “I think what the manager has done is demonstrate a lot of belief in each of us,” Guéhi says. “Any time we do get the chance, we aim to show what we can achieve.”

Belief as the Theme

Faith is the focus – and not only 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 qualifying tie next Tuesday and Tuchel has framed it all with his squad selection.

It was, quite, the most stunning demonstration of support in the players from the previous get‑together, those who had gone to Serbia and sparked Tuchel’s tenure. Every one of the 24 who are fit have been retained – so excluding Tino Livramento or Noni Madueke, who have long-term issues. Or Reece James, who was obliged to withdraw on Monday because of a more minor one.

Tuchel’s Choices and Team Dynamics

His choice to omit the returned Jude Bellingham has dominated the discourse – to the extent that the omission of Phil Foden, who is likewise fully recovered, has been made as a something of a footnote.

What should not be ignored – and what Tuchel hopes won’t be ignored – is how he has stood by Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who was a late call-up in September to replace the hurt Adam Wharton, even though Loftus-Cheek having surrendered his spot in Milan’s Serie A side. Or how he retained Jarell Quansah, who came in for the unavailable John Stones in September, although the former now being OK and in the group. Though, Quansah himself was forced to exit on Wednesday because of a knock.

This is how a manager builds a performance-based culture, how he forges bonds. Tuchel admired the team supporting the team in Serbia, the unsung heroes on the sidelines, and he wanted to reward them. Bellingham or Loftus‑Cheek? Is that a question? Tuchel has effectively turned it into one for this camp – and he sees an positive in the message he has sent. Past accolades will not sway him. Acting as a supportive colleague will.

Building a Strong Unit

Coinciding with good timing that Steven Gerrard opened up in an interview with his ex England teammate Rio Ferdinand on Tuesday, revealing how self-centered and clique-ridden their so-called golden generation team was. The ability was not in doubt; it was the environment that held them back and Tuchel is determined to get this right. He was talking about a “close-knit group” within the team before his first game.

“There’s any tension between anybody,” Guéhi explains. “We are, as we put it when we’re here, Team England. No matter has happened in the before or what is occurring in the campaign, you leave that behind. You come here, these become your best friends, your teammates, the guys that you battle with for as long as you’re here.

“The atmosphere is always great when we’re here. The FA, past coaches and the squad themselves, the backroom team, have done a excellent job at creating an atmosphere. Then again, it depends on the individuals to actually buy into that. In my opinion every single person has bought into that superbly because I enjoy so much being here and I am sure the rest of the lads feel the same, too.”

Future Focus

That which Tuchel wants against Wales is a performance that excites the Wembley fans. Those against Albania and Latvia were steady enough; the victories positive, the first steps on the path to the World Cup next year. But they were not thrillers. Will the team continue the cut and thrust they showed in Serbia? The final words belong to Guéhi.

“In my case, worrying is a normal feeling,” he says about being benched against Albania. “But I was selected in that squad. It means that the boss has opted for me for this chance and if I’m starting or not I’ll still back the team.

“So personally, fretting can be a futile effort. You only get so many moments on this earth. I prefer to be positive and concentrated and help the teammates that I can – or help myself – by striving to be the finest that I can be rather than worrying.”