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For Marc Guéhi, a momentary flicker of self-doubt was natural. The Selhurst Park centre‑half had shone for England at Euro 2024, cementing himself as a first-choice selection under the previous manager, and his status stayed intact following the caretaker coach’s spell in the initial part of last season.

Then came Thomas Tuchel, and it is worth remembering that this was the coach who had approved Guéhi’s transfer from Chelsea to Crystal Palace in the offseason of 2021. Guéhi definitely recalled that. Did Tuchel fancy him? When the fresh leadership swept another defender into the lineup for his first game in charge, against Albania at Wembley in March, with Guéhi as an unused substitute, it did not look great.

Tuchel started Guéhi in the following game, against Latvia, also at Wembley, before he was not able to pick him for his second camp in June, which took in the fixtures versus Andorra away and Senegal in Nottingham. Guéhi had sustained an eye injury during his club’s memorable FA Cup final win against Manchester City.

“I’d say it’s natural for every player to practically doubt that,” Guéhi states, looking back at his absence against Albania. “As you’d expect, fresh coach arriving … who knows what the squad’s going to look like, it’s unknown who is going to feature?”

The thing Guéhi then did was exactly what he always does – remain firmly in the present, as composed as possible. This approach would serve him well during a hectic end to the offseason window when the Palace chair, Steve Parish, blocked his proposed move to Liverpool.

The following day, Guéhi reported with England for the matches against Andorra at Villa Park and Serbia in Belgrade and he worked like a man possessed. Not a soul would have known about any personal doubts. It is difficult not to see that gathering and those games as a turning point for Guéhi, the time when he earned Tuchel over. The young defender started in both and was particularly impressive in the five-nil win over Serbia, even adding his first international goal.

The trust cuts both ways. Tuchel has this knack of drawing players in, of supporting them; it was one of the main factors why the FA appointed him. “I think what the manager has done is show a lot of belief in every single one of us,” Guéhi says. “Whenever we receive the opportunity, we want to show what we can achieve.”

Belief as the Theme

Faith is the focus – and not only because Guéhi is the child of a pastor and deeply Christian. England face Wales in a friendly at Wembley on Thursday night before going to Riga to face Latvia in their next World Cup qualifying tie next Tuesday and Tuchel has framed it all with his squad selection.

It was, simply, the most remarkable demonstration of support in the players from the previous get‑together, those who had gone to Serbia and ignited Tuchel’s tenure. Each of the 24 who are available have been kept – so not Tino Livramento or Noni Madueke, who have long-term issues. Or Reece James, who was forced to pull out on Monday because of a less serious one.

Tuchel’s Decisions and Team Unity

Tuchel’s decision to overlook the fit-again Jude Bellingham has dominated the discourse – to the extent that the exclusion of Phil Foden, who is likewise back to fitness, has been made as a bit of a afterthought.

What should not be overlooked – and what Tuchel hopes won’t be missed – is how he has supported Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who was a last-minute addition in September to cover for the injured Adam Wharton, even though Loftus-Cheek having surrendered his spot in Milan’s Serie A team. Or how he retained Jarell Quansah, who came in for the injured John Stones in September, despite the latter now being OK and in the squad. Though, Quansah himself was forced to exit on Wednesday because of a knee injury.

Here is how a coach builds a performance-based culture, how he forges connections. Tuchel admired the unit behind the team in Serbia, the unheralded contributors on the bench, and he aimed to reward them. Bellingham or Loftus‑Cheek? Is it even a debate? Tuchel has essentially made it one for this session – and he believes in an upside in the signal he has sent. Reputations will not influence him. Acting as a supportive colleague will.

Building a Brotherhood

It was with good timing that Steven Gerrard opened up in an interview with his ex England teammate Rio Ferdinand on Tuesday, disclosing how egotistical and divided their much-hyped talented era squad was. The ability was not in question; it was the environment that limited them and Tuchel is set to get this right. He was talking about a “brotherhood” within the team before his initial match.

“There isn’t any tension between anyone,” Guéhi says. “We are, as we put it when we’re here, Team England. Whatever has gone on in the past or whatever is occurring in the campaign, you put that behind. You come here, these become your closest allies, your colleagues, the guys that you battle with for as long as you’re here.

“The atmosphere is always positive when we’re here. The football association, past coaches and the players themselves, the staff, have performed a excellent job at creating an atmosphere. Then again, it comes down to the individuals to truly buy into that. I think every single person has accepted that superbly because I love so much being here and I am sure the others of the lads feel the same, too.”

Looking Ahead

What Tuchel expects against Wales is a showing that excites the Wembley crowd. Those versus Albania and Latvia were steady enough; the victories positive, the first steps on the path to the World Cup next year. But they were not thrillers. Can the team continue the intensity they showed in Serbia? The last thoughts belong to Guéhi.

“In my case, worrying is a natural human emotion,” he states about not playing in Albania. “But I was picked in that group. It signifies that the boss has opted for me for this chance and whether I’m playing or not I’ll always support the team.

“So personally, worrying can be a futile effort. You only get so many days on this planet. I’d rather be excited and concentrated and help the teammates that I can – or improve personally – by being the finest that I can be instead of stressing.”