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In the case of Marc Guéhi, a fleeting flicker of uncertainty was understandable. The Crystal Palace defender had shone for England at the European Championships, cementing himself as a first-choice 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, and it is worth remembering that this was the coach who had sanctioned Guéhi’s transfer from Stamford Bridge to Crystal Palace in the summer of 2021. Guéhi definitely recalled that. Was Tuchel rate him? When the new broom brought Dan Burn into the starting XI for his first game in charge, versus Albania at Wembley in March, with Guéhi as an uninvolved reserve, it wasn’t promising.

Tuchel started Guéhi in the next game, against Latvia, again at Wembley, before he was not able to pick him for his next gathering in June, which included the fixtures versus Andorra away and Senegal in Nottingham. Guéhi had suffered an eye injury during his club’s historic FA Cup final win against Manchester City.

“In my opinion it’s normal for any footballer to almost question that,” Guéhi states, looking back at his absence against Albania. “You know, fresh coach arriving … who knows what the team’s going to be, it’s unknown who is going to feature?”

What Guéhi did next was what he typically does – stay firmly in the moment, as balanced as he could be. This approach would benefit him during a dramatic end to the offseason window when the Palace chair, Steve Parish, prevented his planned move to Liverpool.

The next day, Guéhi reported with England for the games against Andorra at Villa Park and Serbia in Belgrade and he trained like a man possessed. Nobody would have been aware about any personal doubts. It is difficult not to see that camp and those matches as a pivotal moment for Guéhi, the time when he earned Tuchel over. The young defender was selected in each and was especially impressive in the 5-0 win over Serbia, even adding his first international goal.

The faith works both ways. Tuchel has this knack of bringing players in, of supporting them; it was one of the main reasons why the FA hired him. “In my view what the manager has done is show a lot of faith in each of us,” Guéhi comments. “Any time we receive the chance, we aim to show what we can do.”

Belief as the Central Idea

Faith is the focus – and not just because Guéhi is the child of a pastor and deeply Christian. England meet Wales in a exhibition at Wembley on Thursday night before going to Riga to face Latvia in their sixth World Cup qualifying tie next Tuesday and Tuchel has shaped it all with his player choices.

It was, simply, the most remarkable show of support in the players from the last get‑together, those who had traveled to Serbia and ignited Tuchel’s tenure. Each of the 24 who are available have been retained – so excluding Tino Livramento or Noni Madueke, who have long-term issues. Or Reece James, who was forced to withdraw on Monday because of a less serious one.

Tuchel’s Choices and Team Unity

Tuchel’s choice to overlook the fit-again Jude Bellingham has led the conversation – to the point that the exclusion of Phil Foden, who is likewise back to fitness, 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 last-minute addition in September to cover for the injured Adam Wharton, despite Loftus-Cheek having lost his spot in Milan’s Serie A team. Or how he kept Jarell Quansah, who stepped up for the unavailable John Stones in September, although the latter now being fit and in the group. Though, Quansah himself was compelled to withdraw on Wednesday because of a knee injury.

Here is how a coach creates a performance-based culture, how he builds connections. Tuchel loved the team supporting the team in Serbia, the unsung heroes on the sidelines, and he aimed to recognize them. Bellingham or Loftus‑Cheek? Is that a question? Tuchel has essentially made it one for this session – and he believes in an positive in the message he has sent. Past accolades will not influence him. Being a good teammate will.

Creating a Brotherhood

Coinciding with perfect timing that Steven Gerrard spoke candidly in an discussion with his ex England colleague Rio Ferdinand on Tuesday, revealing how self-centered and divided their much-hyped talented era squad was. The talent was not in question; it was the atmosphere that limited them and Tuchel is set to fix this. He was speaking about a “brotherhood” within the squad before his first game.

“There’s any tension between anyone,” Guéhi says. “We are, as we put it when we’re here, the England squad. Whatever has happened in the past or what is going on in the season, you leave that aside. You arrive here, these are your best friends, your colleagues, the players that you battle with for as long as you’re here.

“The atmosphere is always positive when we’re here. The FA, past coaches and the squad themselves, the backroom team, have done a fantastic job at fostering an atmosphere. Then again, it depends on the players to truly embrace that. In my opinion every single person has bought into that superbly because I love immensely coming here and I am sure the rest of the lads do, too.”

Future Focus

What Tuchel expects versus Wales is a performance that stirs the Wembley crowd. Those versus Albania and Latvia were steady enough; the victories positive, the initial progress on the path to the World Cup next year. But they were not thrillers. Will the team build on the cut and thrust they showed in Serbia? The final words belong to Guéhi.

“For me, worrying is a normal human emotion,” he says about not playing against Albania. “But I was selected in that group. It signifies that the boss has chosen me for this chance and if I’m playing or not I’ll always back the team.

“So for me, worrying can be a waste of time. You don’t have many days on this planet. I prefer to be positive and focused and help the people that I can – or help myself – by being the finest that I can be rather than stressing.”