Marc Guéhi Leaves Doubts in the Past, Winning Tuchel’s Confidence and Claiming His England Place

In the case of Marc Guéhi, a momentary flicker of uncertainty was natural. The Selhurst Park centre‑half had shone for England at the European Championships, cementing himself as a key selection under the previous manager, and his standing remained secure after the caretaker coach’s tenure in the first half of last season.

Enter the new boss, and it is worth remembering that this was the manager who had sanctioned Guéhi’s sale from Chelsea to Palace in the offseason of 2021. Guéhi definitely recalled that. Was Tuchel fancy 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 unused substitute, it did not look promising.

The manager selected Guéhi in the next game, versus Latvia, also at Wembley, before he was not able 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 his club’s historic FA Cup final win over Manchester City.

“In my opinion it’s normal for every player to practically question that,” Guéhi says, reflecting on his absence against Albania. “You know, new manager arriving … who knows what the squad’s going to look like, who knows who is going to play?”

What Guéhi then did was what he always does – stay firmly in the moment, as composed as he could be. This approach would serve him well during a dramatic end to the offseason window when the club chairman, Steve Parish, blocked his planned transfer to Liverpool.

The following day, Guéhi joined up with England for the games versus Andorra at Villa Park and Serbia in Belgrade and he trained like a demon. Nobody would have known about any internal turmoil. It is hard not to see that gathering and those games as a pivotal moment for Guéhi, the period when he earned Tuchel over. The young defender was selected in both and was particularly good in the five-nil win against Serbia, even contributing his first international goal.

The trust cuts both ways. Tuchel has this knack of drawing players in, of empowering them; it was a primary factors why the Football Association appointed him. “I think what the gaffer has achieved is demonstrate a lot of belief in each of us,” Guéhi says. “Whenever we receive the chance, we want to display what we can do.”

Faith as the Central Idea

Trust is the focus – and not just because Guéhi is the child of a church minister and deeply Christian. England meet Wales in a friendly 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, quite, the most stunning show of support in the players from the previous get‑together, those who had traveled to Serbia and ignited Tuchel’s tenure. Each of the 24 who are available have been retained – so not 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.

The Manager’s Choices and Squad Dynamics

His choice to overlook the returned Jude Bellingham has dominated the discourse – to the point that the exclusion of Phil Foden, who is also fully recovered, has been rendered as a something of a afterthought.

What should not be overlooked – 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 injured Adam Wharton, even though Loftus-Cheek having lost his place in Milan’s Serie A team. Or how he retained Jarell Quansah, who stepped up for the injured John Stones in September, although the latter now being fit and in the squad. Though, Quansah himself was forced to exit on Wednesday because of a knock.

Here is how a manager creates a meritocracy, how he builds bonds. Tuchel admired the unit supporting the team in Serbia, the unsung heroes on the sidelines, and he aimed to recognize them. Bellingham or Loftus‑Cheek? Is that a debate? Tuchel has effectively turned it into one for this session – and he sees an upside in the signal he has sent. Reputations will not sway him. Acting as a supportive colleague will.

Building a Strong Unit

It was with good timing that Steven Gerrard spoke candidly in an interview with his former England teammate Rio Ferdinand on Tuesday, disclosing how egotistical and divided their much-hyped talented era team was. The talent was not in question; it was the atmosphere that limited them and Tuchel is determined to fix this. He was talking about a “brotherhood” within the team before his initial match.

“There’s any tension between anyone,” Guéhi explains. “We are, as we say when we’re here, the England squad. Whatever has happened in the before or whatever is going on in the campaign, you leave that aside. You come here, these become your closest allies, your teammates, the guys that you go to war with for however long you’re here.

“The atmosphere is always great when we’re here. The football association, previous managers and the players themselves, the backroom team, have done a fantastic role at creating an atmosphere. Then again, it comes down to the individuals to truly buy into that. In my opinion each member has accepted that superbly because I enjoy immensely being here and I am sure the rest of the players do, too.”

Looking Ahead

That which Tuchel wants versus Wales is a showing that excites the Wembley crowd. Those versus Albania and Latvia were solid enough; the victories positive, the initial progress on the road to the World Cup next year. But they were not pulse‑quickeners. Can the team continue the intensity they showed in Serbia? The last thoughts go to Guéhi.

“In my case, anxiety is a natural human emotion,” he says about being benched in Albania. “But I was selected in that squad. It means that the boss has opted for me for this chance and if I’m playing or not I’ll always back the team.

“So personally, worrying can be a waste of time. You only get so many days on this planet. I prefer to be excited and concentrated and help the teammates that I can – or help myself – by being the best that I can be rather than stressing.”