Tuchel on his Squad announcement for the November international break

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Tuchel on his Squad announcement for the November international break   06/11/2026  Wembley Stadium

Transcript

00:02Okay, good morning everyone. Welcome to Wembley Stadium for this media conference to confirm the England squad for the fourth

00:07Camino A4 Nations League fixtures. As ever, we can keep it to two questions per person. Raise your hand if

00:13you do have a question and we'll start here with Rob Dorsett.

00:17Good morning, Thomas. Good morning. Are you well? Yeah, very well, thank you. Good man. Listen, so many exciting stories

00:24and inclusions that I want to ask you about.

00:26Okay, let's go. But it feels like I've got to start with, not a negative, but somebody who's not here,

00:32and I never like doing that. Cole Palmer.

00:35You've named five natural number 10s, shall we say, in the squad, and I suspect you'll consider those in other

00:40positions as well, but one of them isn't Cole Palmer. And what's your thinking?

00:45Yeah, it's enough. It's enough of number 10s, and we stick to the guys who were in camp because camp

00:50was excellent, and we were happy with the last two and a half weeks that we had together.

00:55The impact of all the players was immense throughout the whole camp, and that's why we stick mainly with the

01:04group, and we stick with all the offensive players.

01:07We have Josh King as a new player in there, but he can play, I want to see him on

01:12both wings. He's kind of an extra player that we use.

01:17Of course, that we have training numbers, and we can cover all eventualities because Josh can play all four positions,

01:24and that's basically the reason.

01:27There's a huge headline when you see two Bellinghams in the squad.

01:30Yeah, of course.

01:31That came as a little bit of a surprise to us, but it's what a moment for Job and for

01:35Jude, let's be honest, and his family as well.

01:38How has Job impressed you enough to earn this call-up?

01:41First of all, Lee is speaking very, very highly of him in the under-21s. He's the standout player since

01:47a long time now.

01:48He's the captain of the under-21s, so I think the door should always be open for the pathway, always

01:54be open for special performances over a long period of time,

02:00and that's what Job has done. On top of it, he found his way and found his rhythm with Dortmund,

02:05has an excellent start to the season,

02:07is a regular starter now there and very influential.

02:10And, yeah, and then there's an opportunity because we nominated a side from Job four central midfielders,

02:21but Miles is suspended for the first match against Croatia.

02:24So there's an opportunity coming through the pathway, coming on his own merit, Job, of course,

02:32and deserves to make an impression for us, and that's why we're glad to have him in camp and see

02:38what he can do for us.

02:40Hi, Thomas. Just again on Josh King, you mentioned there he can play all four positions.

02:45He was close last time. That's three of the four players now who came to the US in the prep

02:49camp,

02:50who have been called up to the seniors. I know you've referenced there his versatility,

02:54but what else about him has impressed you?

02:56Oh, he's just a fantastic character, and like you said, he made a big impression in the US,

03:00and then he had a good start to the season.

03:02And now he gives us a bit of flexibility.

03:04We decided to nominate 22 outfield players, gives us a bit of flexibility in training,

03:13and he is the, if you want to call that, the extra player up front.

03:18And, of course, a young player, an exciting player, flexible player.

03:22I want to see him if he can give us alternatives on the wings,

03:26but he can for sure play on the number 10.

03:29And on the number 9 in the preseason, he helped us in training as a fullback.

03:33We will not try that again, but he did well in training.

03:37It's just the attitude, the smile, the positivity, and he's difficult to defend,

03:44so hopefully he can bring this little spark to camp and make an impression.

03:49And just again on Cole Palmer, the last camp there was a discussion that you said

03:54maybe misses too many opportunities to join up.

03:57I'm assuming you've spoken to him this time.

03:58Did you feel the desire from him to want to join up this time?

04:03I guess everyone is desperate to play for England, and Cole is no exception,

04:09but you have to, you know, like we can only, we're speaking now about the player

04:15who is not in camp, and on the other hand, it counts when you are in camp.

04:20And I just said it last time, he misses too many opportunities to impress.

04:24It was a long camp, it was two and a half weeks,

04:27and the players and the boys who were in camp built something extraordinary,

04:32throughout these two and a half weeks, and that's why the credit goes to them,

04:36the trust is for them.

04:37If you are in camp, this is your chance to impress, and, yeah.

04:42So it's not personal, and of course, we will never assume that Cole is not in the mindset

04:49to come and desperate to play for his country, but the competition is on,

04:54and the players who were in camp did an amazing job and kept their place.

05:01Thomas, in this opportunity, we quite often talk about the new inclusions

05:05and the exclusions from a squad, but on this special occasion,

05:08I think we have to talk about Harry Kane, Ballon d'Or winner,

05:12and about to become the record appearance holder.

05:15I need you to find some superlatives, please.

05:17Yeah, it's just an incredible achievement that these two occasions come together

05:23in one, and that we are able to witness this in person.

05:28He wins the Ballon d'Or, and deservedly so, and in the next game for England,

05:34he gets the all-time record with 126 matches.

05:39It's just incredible achievements, just underlines his professional status

05:46and his demeanour and his attitude.

05:49He's our captain, and we cannot find a better frame and a better matchup

05:57to celebrate him, his achievement.

06:00And then let's not forget, it's an important match for us.

06:04It's a crucial match for us.

06:06We are desperate to win this match and to have a final in Spain after,

06:13but the focus is on the Croatia match, and it will be a deserved frame

06:18and a deserved occasion to celebrate an extraordinary player.

06:24I don't want to dwell too much on Cole Palmer,

06:27but he had a really discombulating season with two managers,

06:30caretaker coming in twice, now performing really strongly

06:34with Morgan Rodgers.

06:36Do you see him coming into this England camp in the future

06:39when he can put that difficult season and being left out of that squad?

06:44The door is always open, but nothing has changed,

06:47and we decided to do this camp without him.

06:50Go to Ali from England.

06:53Hi, Thomas.

06:54Just a question about the right side of the attack with Saka injured.

06:58With Madueke not selected, those are the two guys that have played

07:01most of the minutes on the right side of the attack

07:03under your management.

07:05With the current options in this squad,

07:07who do you see occupying that right side of the attack?

07:11I think it's Morgan Rodgers for us,

07:13and it will be Rio on the side.

07:16He played there for Liverpool,

07:18and I'm impressed in the last camp.

07:23I think Josh King can play maybe there.

07:27We will try this,

07:29and Morgan Gibbs White played there on the wing.

07:32So we need runners there,

07:34and we need runners and attack through the line.

07:36So I think we have options.

07:39It's a close call and a difficult decision

07:43not to bring Noni,

07:45because he got his minutes after Bukayo was injured at Arsenal

07:49and got some goals lately.

07:52It was very close,

07:53but also there we sticked with the group that we had

07:57and give them our trust.

08:00And back to Jobe,

08:03who a lot of England fans won't have seen play very much,

08:06because he's never played in the Premier League.

08:07Obviously in the Championship with Birmingham and Sunderland,

08:09and now with Dortmund,

08:11there's the obvious comparison with his brother

08:13that's hard to ignore.

08:14But how would you describe him as an individual,

08:17as a player,

08:18in terms of his qualities,

08:20and what role you think might be best for him

08:22in this England team?

08:23Well, we see him in the central midfield,

08:25not as offensive as Jude.

08:27I think in general,

08:28it's an incredible achievement for the family

08:30and for the brothers

08:32to be both nominated for their national team,

08:35which is an incredible story in itself.

08:40Like I said,

08:41I was very happy to give him the call-up

08:44and I saw his excitement straight away

08:47in his smile,

08:49his very open and calm personality.

08:52So it was a very nice phone call, of course,

08:53because it was very good news.

08:55We see him in central midfield,

08:57like I said,

08:58so he's one of five players now

08:59for the central midfield.

09:01He's a more defensive player

09:04than his brother Jude.

09:08So strong on the ball,

09:10good physique,

09:11a big body,

09:14a very physical player,

09:16and can keep possession.

09:18So now it's on him,

09:19because we only have

09:20basically Tuesday and Wednesday

09:22to prepare the Thursday match,

09:26which is in itself also a reason

09:30to stick mainly with the group

09:31that was with us,

09:32because we developed some new patterns,

09:34we developed some new behaviors,

09:36and it will be very,

09:37very difficult to learn all that

09:38within two days.

09:41So, yeah,

09:42it's now up to him,

09:43but he's, of course,

09:45excited and happy

09:46and eager to impress,

09:48and that's the best foundation

09:52to have a good camper.

09:54for the rest of us.

09:54Yes.

09:56Hi, Thomas.

09:58Ahead of the last camp,

10:00you said you were quite eager

10:01to give Kobi Maynou some minutes,

10:03and obviously he had to withdraw.

10:04So what was the thinking

10:05in terms of going for Job?

10:06Obviously,

10:06you've heard his qualities there,

10:08but why Kobi maybe

10:09didn't get another chance this time?

10:11I think Kobi had a difficult spell now

10:13with his team and his club,

10:16and missed a lot,

10:17a lot of matches,

10:18and in the meantime,

10:20it was Job who impressed

10:22in the same level of time,

10:24and that's exactly what we want.

10:26The door is always open,

10:27the door is always open

10:28for younger ones to overtake

10:29or to make their mark,

10:31so that's just a sign

10:33of the competition

10:33in central midfield.

10:36And just on Ben White

10:37coming in to the squad again,

10:39he had a bit of an eventful return

10:41to the squad back in March,

10:42I think he scored,

10:43gave away a penalty.

10:44He was also booed

10:45by some England fans.

10:46Have you got any concerns

10:48about how the England fans

10:49might perceive him

10:50and his commitment to this England?

10:52Yeah, we were not happy about this.

10:54We could understand

10:55the disappointment of the fans,

10:57of course,

10:57with what happened before,

10:58but I think if everyone...

11:02I think this is expressed now,

11:04and this should be a closed book,

11:08because I think everyone

11:09could also see the investment

11:11of Ben and the quality of Ben

11:15and how he presented himself

11:17in the March camp

11:20before the World Cup.

11:23So he did excellent

11:24and then scored for us

11:27and then we conceded,

11:28I think he committed a foul

11:30and we conceded a penalty.

11:31Of course, it was very eventful for him,

11:33not so easy to come back.

11:35When I speak to him,

11:36I always feel the hunger

11:38to come back

11:39and the excitement.

11:40He missed the last camp.

11:41He's a standout player for Arsenal

11:43on a position

11:45where we struggle

11:46with injuries somehow

11:47and we have a lot of changes.

11:50So now Trevor Chaloba

11:50is not in camp.

11:52That makes maybe

11:54Gerald Konza

11:54half a fullback

11:56and half a centreback

11:57in camp

11:58and gives Ben the opportunity

12:00to impose himself again,

12:02because every time

12:03I watch Arsenal,

12:04I see a very strong Ben White

12:06on this position

12:08and that's why I think

12:10he deserves

12:11to open a new chapter.

12:13I think he deserves

12:14a positive feedback

12:15from the crowd.

12:17He's one of our players

12:19and we want everyone

12:21to be supported.

12:22This is what the team

12:23helps the most

12:24and I think we are there now

12:26to write a new chapter with him.

12:32Hi Thomas.

12:33You've selected again

12:34James Garner

12:35but his Everton teammate

12:37Kieran Drewsbury-Hall

12:38is still waiting

12:38for his first senior call-up.

12:41Given his performances

12:42for Everton

12:42and the fact that he's featured

12:44in your provisional squad,

12:45how close is he

12:46to earning his opportunity

12:47and what more

12:48do you need to see from him?

12:49Very good player.

12:50Very good season.

12:51You can just see it.

12:52He's a very good football player

12:54overall

12:54but I see him

12:55in the way we play now.

12:58I don't see him

12:59in the central midfield

13:00in the build-up

13:02and in the build-up

13:04of the game.

13:04I see him more

13:05in the finishing part

13:06of the game

13:06as an offensive 8

13:08or almost as a 10

13:09and the concurrence

13:13and competition

13:13is very, very high

13:15in our squad

13:15on this position

13:17but he is,

13:18as you know,

13:19he's in our 55

13:21in our squad of 55

13:23and he's a standout

13:25player for Everton.

13:26We see his quality

13:27he's a nice watch

13:29because he's a very,

13:30very good football player

13:31and was very,

13:32very close for him.

13:34And just on Rio

13:36and Gamora,

13:36what progress

13:37have you seen

13:38from him

13:38in the last few months

13:40and do you now

13:40view him as someone

13:41that can compete

13:42for a starting place

13:43rather than just being

13:45in and around the camp

13:45for experience?

13:46Yeah, I think that's always

13:48the goal for every player

13:50who comes.

13:51You can be glad

13:52to get the call-up

13:53and you can be glad

13:54to be first time in camp

13:55or be relatively new

13:56in camp

13:57but then once training

13:58starts,

13:59everyone fights

14:00for a starting place.

14:01This is the culture

14:02that we want to have.

14:03Everyone fights for minutes

14:04and everyone has the chance.

14:06So Rio got the call-up

14:08last time

14:09and I think like now

14:10in between these two camps,

14:13the four or five weeks,

14:14he deserves it

14:15maybe even more

14:15than before last camp

14:17because he got crucial minutes.

14:19He got a man-of-a-match performance

14:21I think against Atletico Madrid

14:24in Champions League.

14:25So he's in a good space.

14:27He's decisive.

14:28He's full of confidence

14:29and he showed his quality

14:31in the US in prep camp.

14:32He showed it again

14:33in the last camp.

14:35Yeah, he's an option

14:36on both sides

14:38for us.

14:39He's an electric player,

14:40a player who loves

14:41to take on players,

14:42good in one-on-ones,

14:45brings something

14:45that is very, very rare

14:47and like I said,

14:48had a good spell

14:48with Liverpool

14:49in between the camps.

14:52Here we go, James

14:53and then Henry.

14:54Thomas, hi.

14:55You said 22 outfield players.

14:57I think half of them

14:58didn't go to the World Cup.

15:00Yeah.

15:00And you talked about

15:01sort of new patterns

15:02and new behaviours as well.

15:04Do you sort of feel

15:05in general you're moving

15:06into a different phase now?

15:07This is a sort of

15:08different team.

15:09I think we did naturally

15:10and we were a little bit

15:12forced because I was

15:14a bit concerned

15:15before the last camp

15:17because we missed

15:18Dean Henderson,

15:19we missed John Stone,

15:21Stan Byrne,

15:22Jordan Henderson,

15:23Reece James,

15:24players who were

15:25really responsible

15:26for the atmosphere,

15:28for the attitude,

15:29for the energy

15:29in the World Cup.

15:31and they played

15:33this huge part

15:34not only in minutes

15:35but for the atmosphere

15:37and the standards

15:38throughout the camp.

15:40So I was a bit worried

15:41there that we missed

15:42so many of them.

15:43But then the group

15:44found their own way,

15:46found their new leadership,

15:47found a new way

15:48to engage with each other

15:50and build another,

15:53build again

15:54a very exciting camp,

15:56build another

15:56good atmosphere,

15:59found straightaway

16:00new voices

16:01to set the standards.

16:04And now we had

16:05more choices

16:06and I had to

16:08give Dan

16:09and Jordan Henderson

16:10for example

16:11like difficult phone calls

16:12Dino Henderson

16:13as well,

16:14which was very difficult

16:15because I am very aware

16:17what they did for us

16:18during qualifiers

16:20and during the World Cup.

16:22And I think

16:23they built a very strong

16:25foundation

16:25on which

16:26these players

16:27now

16:28they benefit from.

16:30But

16:31we took this decision

16:32to give them

16:33the chance

16:34and it's a kind

16:35of a proof of concept

16:36can we do it again

16:37without these

16:38big personalities,

16:40without these voices

16:42because they showed

16:43they can

16:44and now

16:44we have two big matches

16:45coming on

16:46and yeah.

16:47So naturally

16:49we went

16:50forward

16:52but we always

16:53want to go forward

16:54we always want to

16:54embrace change

16:55as something positive

16:57so I think

16:57it's something natural

16:58and it doesn't mean

17:00that the door

17:00is closed

17:01for these kind

17:02of players

17:02because I'm very well

17:03aware what they

17:04can do

17:05and what they bring

17:06to a team

17:06but yeah

17:08we decided

17:09to give this group

17:11kind of a second push.

17:13and you had a number

17:14of withdrawals

17:15last month

17:16do you have any doubts

17:17over any players

17:18this time

17:19and do you have

17:20a sort of

17:20a standby list?

17:21I have a little

17:22standby list

17:23and the players

17:24and the clubs

17:24they know it

17:25that they're on

17:25this kind of

17:26standby list

17:27players who cover

17:28us on a lot

17:30of positions

17:31but on the other

17:32hand we also

17:32have 22 players

17:33so we are prepared

17:35for one or two

17:36injuries

17:36that should not

17:38affect us

17:38because it's

17:39a very very

17:39short camp

17:41with two crucial

17:42matches

17:42but it's short

17:44time

17:44so we should be

17:46fine number wise

17:48and I think

17:49the best reactions

17:50to the withdrawals

17:52in the last camp

17:52was to just

17:54from the players

17:56who were in camp

17:56to just put the

17:57quality in

17:58and make it

17:59a successful camp

18:00and that is

18:01the best foundation

18:02for the next camp

18:04to have less

18:04withdrawals

18:05which is actually

18:06happening now

18:07so it's always

18:08about the ones

18:09who are in camp

18:10it's always the

18:10one who don't

18:11withdraw

18:12and who walk

18:14the talk

18:15and come to camp

18:16and show that

18:17it matters

18:18and put the

18:19quality in

18:19and this is

18:20always what

18:21we will reward

18:21Do you feel

18:22that message

18:22has got through?

18:23I think it's

18:24naturally coming

18:25through without

18:25we don't need

18:26to talk about it

18:27which we do now

18:28but that was

18:30always the message

18:31very very early

18:33in our

18:34since we took

18:35charge

18:36that it matters

18:37if you are in

18:38camp

18:38and it matters

18:38what you do

18:39in camp

18:40and the last

18:41camp was an

18:41excellent one

18:42so the trust

18:44and the belief

18:44is on the players

18:45that were there

18:46Thomas, hi

18:47you pretty much

18:48qualified for the

18:49knockout

18:49it would take

18:50quite a freakish

18:51mathematical

18:51I think it's

18:52eight goals

18:52does that allow

18:53you to experiment

18:54are you still

18:55targeting top spot?

18:58Yeah

18:58me personally

18:59I'm targeting

18:59top spot

19:00and I would be

19:01very surprised

19:02if my group

19:03doesn't

19:03so this is

19:06clearly the target

19:07we want to have

19:08a final in Spain

19:09because we want

19:10to have these

19:11pressure moments

19:11and we want

19:12to have these

19:14matches when

19:15we play for

19:16something

19:16we want to play

19:17under pressure

19:17and we want to

19:18play in the big

19:18occasions

19:19we want to use

19:20Nations League

19:20for exactly that

19:21to be prepared

19:22in the best

19:23possible way

19:24then for the

19:25Euros

19:25so for me

19:26Croatia is a

19:27crucial match

19:28to win

19:29especially after

19:31the result

19:32that we got

19:32we got a

19:33deserved result

19:33but it was a

19:34kind of a freak

19:35result

19:36does not reflect

19:37the quality

19:38of Croatia

19:40in general

19:41it reflected

19:47the way the

19:48match went

19:48last time

19:49so it was a

19:50deserved result

19:51but we have to

19:52forget the result

19:53we need to

19:53remember

19:54what we put

19:55in

19:55what quality

19:56we put in

19:56what effort

19:57we put in

19:57and we need

19:58another top

19:59performance

19:59because Croatia

20:01showed an

20:01excellent response

20:02against Spain

20:03straight after

20:04they were very

20:05close of winning

20:06the match

20:06against Spain

20:07so this is

20:08basically the

20:08match we focus

20:10on now

20:10to prepare them

20:13and yeah

20:13we play against

20:14two big nations

20:15in a short

20:16period of time

20:17we need to

20:18prepare this

20:18match in two

20:19days

20:19we have Tuesday

20:20Wednesday

20:21on the pitch

20:21to reconnect

20:22with our patterns

20:23reconnect with

20:24our style of play

20:25and get the energy

20:26going because

20:27like I said

20:28for me

20:29it's a crucial

20:29match

20:30to have

20:31another big

20:32one

20:32in Madrid

20:33do you ever

20:34have to look

20:35at rotating

20:35a player

20:36like Elliot

20:36Anderson

20:37because he's

20:37had a fairly

20:38relentless

20:38few years

20:39under 21

20:39seniors

20:40yeah

20:41if we have

20:42the chance

20:43we will always

20:43take care

20:44about a

20:45player

20:46of course

20:46but

20:48if we have

20:49the chance

20:50maybe 60

20:51minutes

20:51or 70

20:51minutes

20:52but Elliot

20:53is also

20:54a player

20:54that always

20:55wants to

20:55play

20:56always

20:56wants to

20:56be on

20:57the pitch

20:57he's

20:57very

20:57robust

20:58so

20:58knock

20:59wood

20:59hopefully

21:00everything

21:01goes well

21:02finish back

21:02with Rob

21:04Thomas

21:05can I ask you

21:05one last one

21:06about

21:06Trent Alexander-Arnold

21:07please

21:07you know

21:07how much

21:08we speak

21:08about him

21:09and the fact

21:10that we haven't

21:10spoken about him

21:11in this

21:11news conference

21:12speaks volumes

21:13it would have

21:13been easy

21:14for you

21:14to leave

21:14him out

21:15again

21:15with

21:15Jed Spence

21:16coming back

21:16and Ben White

21:18available again

21:18two right backs

21:19I know you're

21:20thinking probably

21:20Jed Spence

21:21as a left back

21:22for this camp

21:23maybe

21:23yeah

21:23Jed is on the

21:24left side

21:25we left

21:25Nico out

21:26which was a

21:26tough call

21:27has he got

21:28an injury issue

21:29as well

21:30maybe

21:30he's not

21:31I would say

21:32not fully

21:32fully fit

21:33and not

21:34he needs to

21:35take his time

21:35to get

21:37fully fit

21:37and take

21:38care of his

21:39knee

21:40I suppose

21:41my question

21:41is

21:42how much

21:43did

21:43Trent Alexander

21:44Arnold

21:44impress you

21:45in the last

21:45camp

21:46that he's

21:47earned his

21:47place again

21:48yeah

21:48he was very

21:49good in

21:49last camp

21:50he was very

21:50good in

21:51the matches

21:52that he played

21:52and he deserved

21:53to come back

21:54competition is

21:55on like

21:56always

21:57doors always

21:57open

21:58and he

22:00competes

22:00now with

22:01Jarrell and

22:01Ben

22:02on the

22:02position

22:03for right

22:04fullback

22:04in this

22:04camp

22:05thank you

22:06very much

22:12thank you

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