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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 the European Championships, cementing himself as a first-choice selection under Gareth Southgate, and his standing remained secure following the caretaker coach’s spell in the first half of last season.

Enter Thomas Tuchel, and it is worth remembering that this was the manager who had approved Guéhi’s sale from Chelsea to Crystal Palace in the offseason of 2021. Guéhi definitely remembered that. Was Tuchel rate him? When the new broom brought another defender into the starting XI for his first game in charge, versus Albania at Wembley in March, leaving Guéhi as an unused substitute, it wasn’t great.

The manager started Guéhi in the following game, against Latvia, again at Wembley, before he was unable to pick him for his next gathering in June, which included the matches against Andorra on the road and Senegal in Nottingham. Guéhi had sustained an eye injury during Palace’s historic FA Cup final win against Manchester City.

“I’d say it’s normal for any footballer to practically question that,” Guéhi says, looking back at his absence from Albania. “You know, new manager coming in … it’s unclear what the squad’s going to look like, it’s unknown who’s going to feature?”

The thing Guéhi then did was exactly what he typically does – remain completely in the present, as balanced as possible. This approach would benefit him during a hectic end to the offseason window when the Palace chair, Steve Parish, blocked his planned move to Liverpool.

The following day, Guéhi reported with England for the games versus Andorra at Villa Park and Serbia in Belgrade and he worked like a demon. Nobody would have known about any internal turmoil. It is difficult not to see that gathering and those matches as a turning point for Guéhi, the period when he earned Tuchel around. The 25-year-old started in both and was especially good in the five-nil win over Serbia, even adding his first international goal.

The trust works both ways. Tuchel has this knack of bringing players in, of supporting them; it was one of the main factors why the Football Association appointed him. “In my view what the manager has done is show a lot of faith in each of us,” Guéhi says. “Whenever we do get the opportunity, we want to show what we can achieve.”

Belief as the Theme

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

It was, quite, the most stunning show of support in the players from the previous camp, those who had gone to Serbia and sparked Tuchel’s tenure. Each of the 24 who are available have been kept – so excluding Tino Livramento or Noni Madueke, who have serious injuries. Or Reece James, who was obliged to withdraw on Monday because of a less serious one.

The Manager’s Choices and Squad Unity

His decision to overlook the returned Jude Bellingham has dominated the discourse – to the point that the omission of Phil Foden, who is likewise fully recovered, has been made as a bit of a afterthought.

What should not be ignored – and what Tuchel hopes won’t be missed – is how he has stood by Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who was a late call-up in September to replace the injured Adam Wharton, despite Loftus-Cheek having surrendered his place in Milan’s Serie A team. Or how he kept Jarell Quansah, who came in for the unavailable John Stones in September, although the latter now being fit and in the squad. However, Quansah himself was forced to withdraw on Wednesday because of a knee injury.

This is how a coach creates a performance-based culture, how he forges connections. Tuchel loved the unit behind the team in Serbia, the unsung heroes on the sidelines, and he wanted to recognize them. Bellingham or Loftus‑Cheek? Is it even a question? Tuchel has essentially made it one for this session – and he sees an positive in the signal he has delivered. Past accolades will not influence him. Acting as a supportive colleague will.

Building a Brotherhood

Coinciding with good timing that Steven Gerrard opened up in an discussion with his ex England teammate Rio Ferdinand on Tuesday, disclosing how self-centered and divided their so-called golden generation team was. The ability was not in doubt; it was the atmosphere that held them back and Tuchel is determined to get this right. He was talking about a “brotherhood” within the team before his first game.

“There’s any tension between anyone,” Guéhi says. “We are, as we say when we’re here, Team England. No matter has gone on in the before or whatever is going on in the campaign, you put that aside. You arrive here, these are your best friends, your colleagues, the players that you go to war with for as long as you’re here.

“The atmosphere is consistently great when we’re here. The FA, previous managers and the squad themselves, the staff, have performed a excellent role at creating an atmosphere. Then again, it comes down to the players to actually embrace that. I think each member has accepted that superbly because I love so much coming here and I know the others of the players do, too.”

Future Focus

What Tuchel wants versus Wales is a showing that stirs the Wembley fans. Those against Albania and Latvia were steady enough; the victories welcome, the initial progress on the path to the World Cup next summer. But they were not pulse‑quickeners. Will the side continue the intensity they showed in Serbia? The final words go to Guéhi.

“In my case, anxiety is a normal feeling,” he states about being benched in Albania. “But I was picked in that group. It signifies that the manager has opted for me for this opportunity and whether I’m starting or not I’ll always back the team.

“So for me, fretting can be a futile effort. You don’t have many days on this planet. I prefer to be excited and focused and assist the people that I can – or help myself – by being the best that I can be rather than stressing.”