Tuchel Asks Bellingham to Accept Decisions After Reaction in Qualifying Match
England’s coach, Thomas Tuchel, has expressed his opinion on Jude Bellingham’s reaction after being substituted in the World Cup qualifying match against Albania. Tuchel emphasized the importance of accepting the coach’s decisions.
The 2-0 victory, secured thanks to goals from Harry Kane, ensured the triumph in Tirana and completed an impeccable campaign for England in Group K, with eight wins and eight clean sheets.
Bellingham, who was one of the seven changes made for the match, was substituted six minutes from the end, which generated visible frustration in the player.
“That’s the decision, and he has to accept it,” Tuchel declared. “His teammate is waiting on the sidelines, so you have to accept it, respect it, and move on.”
Tuchel
In response to the question of whether Bellingham’s reaction contradicts what has been said about behavior, Tuchel replied: “I didn’t see it that way, I’ll have to review it.” He added: “I saw that he was not happy. I don’t want to make it bigger than it is at the moment.”
Tuchel emphasized that it is important to maintain standards and mutual respect within the team, and that decisions are made considering the collective well-being. He also mentioned that it is a “bad impression” if individual incidents divert attention from the collective goal, which has been the focus of England’s successful qualifying campaign.
The German coach, who had an impressive first year, will meet the opponents of next summer in the draw on December 5. England became the first European team to play at least six World Cup qualifying matches and win them all without conceding goals.
“I don’t dare to think about a starting eleven [in the World Cup] because there are many months left to play,” Tuchel said. “But we learned a lot today, because it was a tough match, an emotional stadium. It felt like a cup match as the favorite, and then the underdog has quality and is well prepared and waits for the opportunity.”
Tuchel praised the team’s patience and positivity, and highlighted the constant progress during the three camps. Finally, he congratulated the players on their performance and expressed his difficulty imagining himself without them until March.
