Tuchel hopes to bring Premier League power to England reign
Thomas Tuchel said his England team must reflect the physicality of the Premier League as he hopes to inject more “intensity” into the Three Lions.
The German’s appointment as the third foreign manager to take charge of England has raised the pressure on Tuchel to deliver a first major trophy since 1966 at next year’s World Cup.
After consecutive European Championship final defeats under Gareth Southgate, plus semi-final and quarter-final exits at the past two World Cups, the English Football Association has invested heavily in Tuchel’s track record as a serial winner.
The 51-year-old guided Chelsea to Champions League glory in 2021 and also won league titles at Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain.
Tuchel, though, said he is hoping to deploy the pace and power of the Premier League, rather than a continental influence, as he looks to shape his England team.
“The Premier League is a very physically demanding league, is a very direct league and I think we should be brave enough to play like an England squad and should not try to copy other nations’ styles too much,” Tuchel said after naming his first squad on Friday for World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Latvia.
“I think it should reflect the values of the country and of the strongest league in the world, which is the Premier League.
“I think we need to increase the rhythm and intensity of our game compared to our last matches. This is where the focus is and then hopefully it’s an exciting watch and we have the effect that we wish for.”
Tuchel’s contract only lasts until the end of the 2026 World Cup and he is aware of the need to make an immediate impact.
Qualification should be a formality in a group also containing Serbia and Andorra.
But Tuchel is wary that his time with