Tuchel addresses England boos and preaches calm, saying ‘We don’t go to the World Cup next week’ after Senegal loss.
Tuchel addresses England boos and insists ‘no need to panic’ after Senegal humbling.
Despite being humiliated 3-1 by Senegal one year and one day before the World Cup begins, Thomas Tuchel said that England shouldn’t fear about their chances.
Senegal emerged victorious 3-1, giving Tuchel his first loss of the reign at the City Ground and England their first defeat over African opponents in 22 games. Jude Bellingham’s goal was controversially disallowed at 2-1, but following Saturday’s arduous victory over Andorra in World Cup qualifying, it was impossible to hide how poor England’s most recent performance under their German coach was. For the second consecutive game, England was jeered off the field.
The England head coach, however, insisted improvement would come and it was premature to worry about the World Cup one year in advance. “We lost a test match so there is no need to panic,” said Tuchel.
“We have three qualification games, we have nine points, we have not conceded and we will be competitive in September and we will go for two more victories, 100%. We know more now, we are smarter. It is tough at the moment. I am the first one to dislike and hate losses but we don’t go next week, we go in one year and I think by nature it will get more competitive in the nomination process and in the demands for players to be nominated and to be with us in September, October, November because we are in a World Cup season.”
Tuchel said: “Now we go into a long break with a bad feeling and a loss which is simply not nice and not what we wanted. I will never be glad for a loss. I’m glad for a tough test and challenges. We wanted to feel the quality of a top-20 team and we felt their quality. We felt what it means to them. I heard them in the dressing room before the match, I heard them in the dressing room after the match so I know how much it means to them to play against us. How much joy they expressed if they make this happen.
“It’s the right thing to test, the right thing to challenge. Of course we demand a lot of ourselves and I demand more of myself, we wanted to play better against Andorra, and do better today. It is a tough learning.”