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For Marc Guéhi, a momentary flicker of self-doubt was natural. The Selhurst Park defender had shone for England at Euro 2024, cementing himself as a key selection under Gareth Southgate, and his standing remained intact after Lee Carsley’s spell in the initial part of last season.

Then came Thomas Tuchel, which is worth remembering that this was the manager who had approved Guéhi’s transfer from Stamford Bridge to Crystal Palace in the summer of 2021. Guéhi certainly remembered that. Was Tuchel rate him? When the fresh leadership brought another defender into the lineup for his debut in charge, versus Albania at Wembley in March, with Guéhi as an unused substitute, it wasn’t promising.

The manager started Guéhi in the following game, against Latvia, again at Wembley, before he was not able to pick him for his second camp in June, which included the fixtures against Andorra away and Senegal in Nottingham. Guéhi had suffered an eye injury during his club’s historic FA Cup final win against Manchester City.

“I’d say it’s normal for any footballer to almost doubt that,” Guéhi states, reflecting on his absence from Albania. “As you’d expect, fresh coach arriving … who knows what the team’s going to look like, who knows who’s going to play?”

The thing Guéhi then did was exactly what he typically does – remain completely in the moment, 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 proposed move to Liverpool.

The next day, Guéhi reported with England for the games against Andorra at Villa Park and Serbia in Belgrade and he worked like a demon. Not a soul would have known about any personal doubts. It is hard not to see that gathering and those matches as a turning point for Guéhi, the period when he won Tuchel over. The 25-year-old was selected in both and was especially good in the 5-0 win over Serbia, even adding his maiden strike for his country.

The faith works both ways. Tuchel has this ability of bringing players in, of empowering them; it was one of the main factors why the FA hired him. “I think what the gaffer has done is demonstrate a lot of belief in every single one of us,” Guéhi says. “Any time we receive the opportunity, we want to show what we can do.”

Belief as the Central Idea

Faith is the focus – and not just because Guéhi is the son of a church minister and devoutly Christian. England face Wales in a exhibition 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 player choices.

It was, quite, the most remarkable show of confidence in the players from the last camp, those who had gone to Serbia and sparked Tuchel’s reign. Each of the 24 who are fit have been kept – so not Tino Livramento or Noni Madueke, who have serious injuries. Or Reece James, who was forced to withdraw on Monday because of a more minor one.

Tuchel’s Decisions and Squad Dynamics

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

That which should not be overlooked – and what Tuchel does not want missed – is how he has supported Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who was a late call-up in September to replace the injured Adam Wharton, even though Loftus-Cheek having surrendered his spot in Milan’s Serie A side. Or how he retained Jarell Quansah, who stepped up for the injured John Stones in September, despite the latter now being OK and in the squad. However, Quansah himself was compelled to withdraw on Wednesday because of a knock.

This is how a coach creates a meritocracy, how he builds bonds. Tuchel loved the unit supporting the team in Serbia, the unsung heroes on the bench, and he wanted to recognize them. Bellingham or Loftus‑Cheek? Is it even a debate? Tuchel has essentially made it one for this session – and he believes in an upside in the signal he has delivered. Reputations will not sway him. Acting as a supportive colleague will.

Creating a Brotherhood

Coinciding with good timing that Steven Gerrard opened up in an discussion with his former England teammate Rio Ferdinand on Tuesday, revealing how egotistical and clique-ridden their much-hyped golden generation team was. The talent was not in doubt; it was the environment that held them back and Tuchel is determined to get this right. He was talking about a “close-knit group” within the squad before his first game.

“There isn’t any animosity between anyone,” Guéhi says. “We are, as we put it when we’re here, the England squad. Whatever has gone on in the past or whatever is going on in the season, you leave that aside. You arrive here, these are your best friends, your colleagues, the guys that you battle with for however long you’re here.

“The environment is always positive when we’re here. The FA, past coaches and the players themselves, the backroom team, have performed a excellent job at creating an atmosphere. Then again, it comes down to the players to truly buy into that. In my opinion every single person has bought into that superbly because I love so much coming here and I know the others of the lads feel the same, too.”

Looking Ahead

What Tuchel wants against Wales is a showing that excites the Wembley fans. Those versus Albania and Latvia were steady sufficient; the victories welcome, the initial progress on the road to the World Cup next summer. But they were not thrillers. Will the side build on the cut and thrust they displayed in Serbia? The final words belong to Guéhi.

“For me, worrying is a normal feeling,” he says about being benched in Albania. “But I was picked in that squad. It signifies that the boss has chosen me for this opportunity and if I’m playing or not I’ll always back the team.

“So for me, fretting can be a futile effort. You don’t have many moments on this earth. I prefer to be excited and concentrated and assist the teammates that I can – or help myself – by striving to be the finest that I can be instead of stressing.”