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Thomas Tuchel was not happy with England’s win over Andorra, stressing the need for better physical performance and honest criticism despite the victory.
England boss Thomas Tuchel (AP)
Thomas Tuchel expressed his impatience for improvement from his England team, stating there is no need to “sugarcoat” criticism following a lacklustre 1-0 victory over Andorra on Saturday.
The Three Lions faced criticism for their sloppy performance in the World Cup qualifier in Barcelona, where Harry Kane scored the sole goal early in the second half.
Despite extending Tuchel’s winning start to three games, the team was booed after struggling to break down a team ranked 173rd in the world.
“I’m impatient and want to do better,” said the former Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain boss ahead of Tuesday’s friendly against Senegal in Nottingham.
“We are considering giving the players a bit more freedom within the structure – let’s see.”
“Tomorrow, we face a more physical and demanding team. On paper, it might not appear as offensive as we were against Andorra, but it will give the players more freedom to express themselves, and hopefully, we see that on Tuesday.”
Tuchel, a serial winner of major titles, was appointed as England’s third foreign coach with great expectations, but he has yet to deliver the exciting brand of football he promised.
His tenure began with a 2-0 win over Albania and a 3-0 victory against Latvia in March.
England captain Kane admitted the Euro 2024 finalists “got away with one” given their lacklustre performance in front of a small crowd at Espanyol’s RCDE Stadium.
“There was a common sense right after in the dressing room,” said Tuchel.
“We clearly underperformed in the physical aspect of the game, which was evident on the sideline and in the data. We didn’t run enough.”
The German emphasised the importance of brutal honesty.
“I protect my players; I didn’t name anyone specifically,” he said. “As a team, we didn’t meet our standards.
“I didn’t like the last 10 minutes; we didn’t play seriously enough to secure the win in the end, which is crucial in a World Cup qualifier.
“Everything I say here, I say to the players. Why should I sugarcoat? There’s no harm in criticism, and I believe a football team can be honest with each other.
“I always include myself in that – now it’s on us to do better. The attitude towards training, the camp, and commitment is outstanding. Everyone wanted to be involved and play. We will analyse and try to improve.”
(With inputs from AFP)
Ritayan Basu, Senior Sub-Editor, Sports at News18.com. Has been covering domestic and and international football for nearly a decade. Has played and covered badminton. Ocassionally writes on cricket, having cov…Read More
Ritayan Basu, Senior Sub-Editor, Sports at News18.com. Has been covering domestic and and international football for nearly a decade. Has played and covered badminton. Ocassionally writes on cricket, having cov… Read More
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