England manager Thomas Tuchel has revealed Jude Bellingham displayed perfect professionalism after being left out of the starting lineup against Serbia, as the Real Madrid star battles to reclaim his position from teammate Morgan Rogers.
Tuchel's Philosophy on Squad Harmony
The Three Lions boss explained his expectations for players who don't make the starting eleven, emphasising that winning teams require complete unity even from those on the bench. Tuchel stated that players should feel "angry" about not starting but must channel that disappointment into supporting their teammates.
"You can be angry at the coach, you can be angry at the situation, but if you see the nations that win, see the clubs that win the Champions League, then the bench is on their feet," Tuchel explained during his post-match analysis.
The German manager drew from his experience with Chelsea's successful campaign, noting: "I experienced this once in the amazing run with Chelsea and it was non-stop, everyone was pushing and fighting from the bench even if they were not picked and they were ready. This makes the difference in the end."
Bellingham's Mature Response
Despite being left on the bench for the Serbia match at Wembley, Bellingham showed "absolutely no issues whatsoever" according to his manager. The 22-year-old came on in the second half and immediately made an impact with what Tuchel described as "good, straight away with all the force and right energy and full of quality up front."
Tuchel had personally explained the decision to Bellingham before the team meeting, recognising the midfielder's importance to the squad while managing the competitive situation. Morgan Rogers has started England's last three matches, delivering what Tuchel called "three fantastic performances" that justified his continued selection.
Looking Ahead to Albania Clash
With England's World Cup qualification for the 2026 tournament in the United States already secured, attention turns to their final qualifying match against Albania on Sunday. Bellingham could feature from the start in this concluding fixture as Tuchel considers rotating his squad.
The manager explained the tactical thinking behind Bellingham's bench role against Serbia: "We knew we would suffer from ball possession from Serbia so we thought once we have clear information, it could be nicer for Jude to play in the second half."
This situation highlights the intense competition for places within the England setup, with Bellingham and Rogers, who are reportedly good friends off the pitch, battling for the same position. Tuchel's handling of the situation demonstrates his commitment to building what he calls "a strong national team" where even world-class players must fight for their starting spots.
