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For Marc Guéhi, a fleeting flicker of self-doubt was understandable. The Selhurst Park centre‑half had excelled for England at the European Championships, cementing himself as a key pick under the previous manager, and his status remained secure following Lee Carsley’s tenure in the first half of last season.

Then came Thomas Tuchel, which is important to recall that this was the coach who had sanctioned Guéhi’s transfer from Chelsea to Palace in the offseason of 2021. Guéhi certainly recalled that. Was Tuchel rate him? When the new broom swept Dan Burn into the lineup for his first game in charge, against Albania at Wembley in March, with Guéhi as an uninvolved reserve, it wasn’t promising.

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

“In my opinion it’s normal for any footballer to practically question that,” Guéhi states, looking back at his omission from Albania. “As you’d expect, 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 did next was exactly what he always does – stay completely in the present, as composed as possible. Which would benefit him during a dramatic end to the offseason window when the club chairman, Steve Parish, blocked his planned move to Liverpool.

The next day, Guéhi joined up with England for the games versus Andorra at Villa Park and Serbia in Belgrade and he trained like a man possessed. Not a soul would have known about any internal turmoil. It is difficult not to see that gathering and those games as a pivotal moment for Guéhi, the time when he won Tuchel around. The 25-year-old started in each and was especially good in the 5-0 win against Serbia, even contributing his first international goal.

The faith works both ways. Tuchel has this knack of bringing players in, of empowering them; it was a primary reasons why the FA hired him. “I think what the manager has achieved is demonstrate a lot of belief in each of us,” Guéhi says. “Whenever we receive the chance, we aim to show what we can do.”

Belief as the Theme

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

It was, quite, the most stunning demonstration of confidence in the players from the last camp, those who had traveled to Serbia and sparked Tuchel’s tenure. Every one of the 24 who are fit have been kept – so excluding Tino Livramento or Noni Madueke, who have serious injuries. Or Reece James, who was forced to pull out on Monday because of a more minor one.

The Manager’s Decisions and Team Unity

Tuchel’s choice to omit the returned Jude Bellingham has led the discourse – to the extent that the exclusion of Phil Foden, who is also fully recovered, has been rendered as a something of a footnote.

What must not be ignored – 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 replace the hurt Adam Wharton, even though Loftus-Cheek having lost 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 fit and in the group. However, Quansah himself was compelled to exit on Wednesday because of a knock.

Here is how a coach builds 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 aimed to reward them. Bellingham or Loftus‑Cheek? Is that a question? Tuchel has essentially made it one for this session – and he sees an upside in the message he has sent. Reputations will not influence him. Being a supportive colleague will.

Building a Brotherhood

Coinciding with perfect timing that Steven Gerrard opened up in an interview with his former England teammate Rio Ferdinand on Tuesday, revealing how self-centered and clique-ridden their so-called talented era team was. The ability was not in doubt; it was the atmosphere that limited them and Tuchel is set to fix this. He was speaking about a “brotherhood” within the squad before his first game.

“There’s any tension between anybody,” Guéhi explains. “We are, as we put it when we’re here, Team England. No matter has gone on in the past or whatever is occurring in the season, you leave that aside. You come here, these become your closest allies, your colleagues, the players that you battle with for however long you’re here.

“The atmosphere is always great when we’re here. The football association, previous managers and the squad themselves, the staff, have performed a fantastic role at fostering an spirit. Additionally, it depends on the individuals to actually embrace that. I think each member has bought into that brilliantly because I love immensely being here and I am sure the rest of the players do, too.”

Future Focus

What Tuchel expects versus Wales is a performance that stirs the Wembley fans. Those versus Albania and Latvia were steady enough; the victories welcome, the initial progress on the road to the World Cup next summer. But they were not pulse‑quickeners. Can the side continue the cut and thrust they showed in Serbia? The final words belong to Guéhi.

“In my case, worrying is a normal human emotion,” he says about not playing against Albania. “But I was picked in that group. It means 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, worrying can be a waste of time. You only get so many days on this earth. I prefer to be positive and concentrated and help the people that I can – or improve personally – by striving to be the best that I can be rather than stressing.”