Communication, Training & Swagger – A New Era Under Tuchel

A New Era for England Begins Tuchel

Thomas Tuchel has wasted no time in shaking things up since taking charge of the England national team.

The German coach, known for his tactical precision, intense training methods, and no-nonsense approach, has already started implementing his own style—one that differs significantly from Gareth Southgate’s more measured regime.

Tuchel’s first two games at the helm, routine wins against Albania and Latvia, provided an early glimpse into his vision. But the real changes are happening behind the scenes, where training schedules, communication strategies, and even the team’s mentality are being redefined.

So, what exactly is different under Tuchel? Let’s take a closer look.

Training Shifted to the Afternoon

One of Tuchel’s first major changes was moving training sessions to the afternoon—a technical shift from Southgate’s approach, where players typically trained in the morning after breakfast.

Tuchel’s reasoning is clear:

🔹 More Preparation Time – Players and staff now have longer periods to analyze and prepare before stepping onto the pitch.
🔹 Better Alignment with Match Conditions – Holding sessions closer to actual kick-off times helps simulate match intensity and improve performance rhythms.
🔹 Physical Benefits – Studies suggest that body temperature, oxygen consumption, and recovery processes are better suited for high-intensity training later in the day.

Some sessions have even stretched into the early evening, with players training under portable floodlights—a small but symbolic departure from Southgate’s more traditional structure.

Tuchel’s Hands-On Approach to Communication

While Southgate was known for his approachable leadership, Tuchel has taken player communication to another level.

Tuchel personally checks in with players outside of international breaks, ensuring they stay engaged and informed about their roles.

Notably, he has also kept in touch with players who weren’t selected, explaining why they were left out and what they need to do for a recall. This level of transparency is something many players have appreciated, though for some, it’s a tough conversation to have.

Even more interestingly, Tuchel has reportedly offered career advice to certain players regarding their club futures—suggesting potential transfers that could enhance their international prospects.

This level of involvement is rare for a national team coach but speaks to Tuchel’s commitment to long-term success.

Squad and Team Announcements: A New Layer of Secrecy

Tuchel has also introduced a different approach to naming squads and starting XIs—one that has kept both players and clubs on their toes.

🔹 How Squad Announcements Have Changed

Under Southgate, new or unexpected call-ups would only find out on announcement day. Tuchel, however:

✅ Privately informed some players the night before the official reveal.
✅ Sent texts to potential call-ups in the days leading up to keep them in the loop.
✅ Delayed informing clubs about their players’ selections—some teams were only told 20 minutes before the public announcement.

While it’s unclear why Tuchel has chosen this approach, it does prevent leaks and keeps everyone guessing.

🔹 How Team Selection Has Changed

Another major shift is when players find out if they’re starting.

🔸 Southgate named his team the night before a match, with training line-ups often making it obvious.
🔸 Tuchel, on the other hand, reveals the XI on matchday—sometimes just hours before kick-off.

For example:

• Against Albania, players only learned the starting XI at noon on matchday.
• Against Latvia, they didn’t find out until 4 PM—just four hours before kick-off.

Even in training, Tuchel has deliberately thrown in “false signals”, with players like Morgan Rogers and Anthony Gordon featuring heavily in pre-match drills—only to start on the bench.

Despite the unpredictability, England’s performances haven’t suffered:

✅ Two wins
✅ Five goals scored
✅ Two clean sheets

So far, Tuchel’s element of surprise has worked.

Tuchel’s First Speech: Setting the Tone for a Winning Mentality

Tuchel’s first team meeting was about one thing: setting the standard for success.

Upon arriving at St. George’s Park, the squad was greeted with the usual media buzz. Inside the team hotel, Tuchel made it clear—England are here to make history.

“The goal is to put another star on the jersey.”

This direct reference to winning the World Cup was an instant statement of intent.

Tuchel emphasized camaraderie, encouraging players to spend more time together in common areas, playing video games, and building team chemistry.

While Southgate was known for creating a strong team bond, Tuchel wants to elevate that to a winning mindset.

His message? This team isn’t here to compete. It’s here to dominate.

Building a Strong Core: The Spine of Tuchel’s England

Thomas Tuchel England: What changes have been made inside the England camp?

While Tuchel is experimenting tactically, he has already identified a core group of untouchable players—the spine of his team.

🔹 Harry Kane – The captain and guaranteed starter up front.
🔹 Declan Rice – The anchor of the midfield.
🔹 John Stones – The defensive leader.

Tuchel has made it clear that, barring injuries, these three will be the backbone of England’s World Cup squad.

You can also add Jude Bellingham and Bukayo Saka to that list—two players Tuchel values highly for their ability to impact games.

Behind the scenes, Tuchel has held one-on-one meetings with several players—not just to discuss tactics, but to understand personalities.

He’s looking for leaders with confidence, swagger, and even a little arrogance—qualities he believes are essential to winning on the biggest stage.

A Different Approach to the Media

Tuchel’s media strategy has also been noticeably different.

🔹 A clip of Reece James praising Tuchel as the best manager he’s worked with was mysteriously deleted from ITV’s social media.
🔹 Tuchel criticized England’s mindset at Euro 2024, saying they were “afraid” to win the tournament.
🔹 His comments caused mixed reactions, with some praising his honesty, while others felt they disrespected Southgate’s achievements.

Whether Tuchel’s direct style will win over fans, media, and players remains to be seen. But one thing is certain:

If Tuchel is going to win the World Cup, he’s going to do it his way.

Final Thoughts: The Tuchel Revolution Has Begun

England’s transition from Gareth Southgate to Thomas Tuchel is already taking shape.

✅ Training methods have changed
✅ Squad selection is more secretive
✅ Communication with players is more direct
✅ A winning mentality is being instilled

Tuchel’s England project is still in its early stages, but his vision is clear—a more intense, aggressive, and tactically flexible team.

With the 2026 World Cup just 16 months away, the question is no longer whether Tuchel will change England.

The question is: Can he turn them into champions?