Tuchel on England Camp Changes and Facing Japan

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England manager Thomas Tuchel on England Camp Changes and Facing Japan  30/03/2026  Tottenham Training Ground, London, UK

Transcript

00:00.

00:03Hi Thomas, good to see you.

00:04Good to see you.

00:05Lots and lots going on over the weekend, lots of changes for you.

00:08I can imagine it was pretty busy.

00:11Can you update us on the kind of conditions of those who've left?

00:16The conditions?

00:17Yeah, their fitness and any injury problems of the players that have gone.

00:22Well, I thought you have the list already from the guys who left with injuries.

00:26It was kind of how bad they are really, I suppose.

00:28There is nothing more to add from me as a coach.

00:31I'm not a medical expert, but we had an assessment after the match

00:37and none of them were able to stay and get any minutes,

00:42so we released them, of course.

00:44It was obviously not a matter of where Caleb,

00:46we saw him leaving a knee brace, it looked particularly bad for him.

00:49Declan Rice and Saka joined a bit.

00:52He had a medical assessment, wanted desperately to play,

00:56to just get the narrative straight, wanted desperately to be involved,

01:01but it made just no sense to take this risk.

01:03If it would have been maybe a last game of the season,

01:07we would have kept them and tried everything,

01:11but in this moment of the season it did not make sense.

01:14The risk for making it worse was just way too big.

01:19They were both in discomfort, clearly in discomfort when we did the medical assessment,

01:24so it made absolutely no sense that they stay.

01:28Adam Wharton had a little injury,

01:31like just also more discomfort than a big injury,

01:34but everyone will be out for quite some days, but not dramatically.

01:39And Nonny, that looked particularly bad with his...

01:41Yeah, and the assessment was then with the picture slightly better than his feeling,

01:46but he will be out for some days.

01:49Thank you for that.

01:52Are you closer or further away from knowing what you'd like to do if Harry Kane is not available?

02:00Good question.

02:02You've seen my answer already that I'm maybe not close.

02:05I have some ideas, but I will not make them public.

02:10I'm happy that Harry is in camp and back in camp, our skipper and captain and goal scorer,

02:17and he will lead the team tomorrow on the pitch.

02:19So this is what we focus on.

02:20We have some options.

02:22Good man.

02:23Sammy Mokbal here.

02:24Thanks.

02:24Hi, Thomas.

02:25In terms of the withdrawals, are you realistic?

02:28Do you take a realistic view in that at this stage of the season,

02:31there are always going to be a number of withdrawals given the level of fatigue?

02:37Are you disappointed with the number of pull-outs this time?

02:43Yeah, disappointed, but not disappointed with the players,

02:47but just disappointed with the fact.

02:48Of course, we want to have everyone in good spirits and in health,

02:51but like you said, it's just the reality of the season.

02:55It's the reality of end of March.

02:58It's the reality of having players in European matches involved

03:04in more than just one competition with all the cups going on.

03:11So that's just the reality of it.

03:13You are well aware that we gave the players some time to rest,

03:17players who had 3,000, 500, 4,000 minutes already.

03:20We have players in camp and gave players a rest

03:24who played already more minutes than the complete last season.

03:27So there are some red flags and there's some concern.

03:30I think the players needed and deserved the mental rest,

03:35mental break from football.

03:37And we could see it, we could see the energy with which they came back into camp.

03:44And to reconnect now in a new environment, I think, helps them a lot

03:49to go then back also to club and perform.

03:52We want them to play good for their clubs,

03:54we want them to perform in their clubs.

03:57But also, of course, the reality as well

03:59is that it's our last camp before we leave to America.

04:02So we want also our principals,

04:06we want to reconnect to our principals,

04:08we want the group to reconnect.

04:10So, yeah, it's disappointing but I'm not upset with the players,

04:15I'm not angry with the players.

04:16I got the feeling that everyone was desperate to come.

04:20Some of the injured players even stayed to do their treatment here,

04:24start their treatment here,

04:25that just shows me they want to be around the group.

04:27No one left straight away, everyone stayed,

04:29had another dinner, had another night, had another breakfast,

04:33because it's a good spirit and that's how it should be.

04:36Everyone was more affected to leave than being able to stay.

04:42But, yeah, as you said, it's a reality,

04:45we will have a strong team tomorrow,

04:47we made the right decision,

04:50we have a full squad to select from.

04:53Today everyone is in training,

04:56I think 21, 22 outfield players,

04:59so we have full choice and we have some fresh legs back,

05:03so we're excited for tomorrow.

05:05Can I ask you a question specifically about John Stones,

05:08one of the withdrawals?

05:09Yeah.

05:10Would probably unusual circumstances be in your team starting,

05:14I presume?

05:15But given the difficulties he's had this season with injuries

05:19and now potentially playing minimally between now and the end of the season,

05:24how do you view that situation?

05:28It's not ideal, it's not ideal for John and not for us, of course,

05:32and John was gutted that he had this minor incident again,

05:36which was not a big injury but just like minor and giving the history.

05:40We had to be careful, it didn't make no sense to push him through

05:45and try stuff to make things even worse.

05:49He has a lot of credit with me in the bank still,

05:53he is a key player for us as a starter or as a substitute,

05:58as a part of the team because of his quality first of all,

06:02but also his mentality and the personality and how he is as a character.

06:09He is a big part in my plans still,

06:14but like everyone he has to be fit once we make the team selection,

06:20he has to be fit and there is no big exception for that.

06:26But let's wait, let's wait how it plays out,

06:28I think he will have some days rest, be then on the pitch, he felt very good,

06:32I saw him very strong in the FA Cup playing for Man City in Newcastle,

06:35very complicated match and he did so, so well.

06:38So I think he can get away with not too many minutes,

06:42but some minutes and being competitive would be of course nice.

06:47And then, like always, we take a late decision.

06:50Hi Thomas, what was your first thought when this friendly was confirmed?

06:57My first thought? Oh, I liked it a lot.

07:00I like the Japanese team, I like the Japanese culture

07:04and it's an honour to play against the national team of Japan.

07:09When do you have the chance to face opponents like this?

07:15I think we have two very interesting, two very different opponents to play against,

07:20two very different mentalities, two very different styles of play.

07:27We were excited about it, to have the possibility, but once you start looking deeply

07:33and you start looking into the quality and the way Japan plays,

07:37I think they have one loss in 17 matches,

07:41a very, very good run of results, they're well-drilled,

07:45and you see all the quality, then you know that you need to be well-prepared

07:49and we need to be ourselves on our top performance to be able to win.

07:55You coached two Japanese players, didn't you?

07:59And then, you know, you saw quite a few Japanese players, particularly Bundesliga.

08:05So what's your general opinion about, you know, Japanese players?

08:09I can only give you the opinion of my two players, Shinji Okasaki and Shinji Kagawa.

08:15It was a pleasure to have them in the team.

08:17They were, first of all, full of quality, amazing, amazing, talented players,

08:22and then they were always ready to do everything for the team.

08:26They were very respectful, very polite, hard-working, very humble.

08:31It was amazing to have them in the team.

08:35That's what you expect tomorrow from Japan?

08:38Tomorrow I expect a well-drilled, a well-trained team.

08:42They play in a back five, two sixes, three strikers, very mobile, very fluid.

08:49They love a switch of play, they love to have ball possession.

08:53I played myself many, many times this formation,

08:57so you have a lot of players, including the goalkeeper,

09:00and the deep end of the pitch, so this can give you control.

09:04It's quite hard to press, there are ways to press,

09:07but we need to be intelligent and we need to be hard-working

09:09and fully committed into our press if we want to steal the ball,

09:13if we want to have high ball recoveries.

09:15If we don't get it right, there's always a chance to be punished,

09:19because you have very mobile players, very fast players, good on the ball.

09:26Of course, given the formation that Japan plays,

09:30there's always a chance to suffer against the switch of play,

09:34so we need to be smart and fully committed,

09:38but I think we're on our way to be well-prepared.

09:41We have one more training session and it will be an interesting game tomorrow.

09:48Hi Thomas, I'm from a Japanese broadcaster at NHK.

09:52I'm sure you've watched the Japan's game against Scotland,

09:56and what did you take away from the game,

10:00and what do you think worked for Japan, what's the strength worth,

10:05and also maybe if you found any weakness there?

10:09If I found some, we always try to find solutions for us.

10:14That is basically the purpose why we watch games.

10:18We watch, of course, the patterns and the strengths of our opponent,

10:22and then we try to flip it around and have the emphasis on our strengths

10:29and where we think we can hurt them.

10:33This is always the same.

10:34I think I explained the way that Japan plays already,

10:39there's nothing to add.

10:43I think there will be a lot of changes,

10:45I think there will be seven, eight, maybe even more changes in the starting line-up.

10:50We watched several matches, we watched them against Mexico,

10:52we watched them against Paraguay, we watched them against Brazil.

10:55I think we are well-prepared, we see the same patterns over and over again.

10:59If you watch the goal against Scotland, you see a well-drilled goal

11:02with a switch of play from wing-back to wing-back through both number 10s.

11:07This is basically the key in their game, I would say.

11:11We need to be aware of it, we need to be aware of the details,

11:14which side of the player we attack, and like I said, we need to be fully committed,

11:20which we are, and have some fresh legs, and it's a good game.

11:24And as we have quite a few familiar faces who play for Premier League,

11:31obviously, knowing the style of English players,

11:36and they know about their players as well.

11:38So, Kaoru Mitoma from Brighton in particular,

11:43how do you rate his quality?

11:46He might start, I don't know, but what would you think?

11:50I think he will start.

11:52How do you stop him?

11:54I think he will start on the number 10 position.

11:56It's difficult to stop him, it's always a team effort.

11:58First of all, maybe the best way is to stop the supply into him,

12:05because he loves to turn, he loves to turn in both directions,

12:08he's strong on the dribbling, he's strong in acceleration.

12:12He's a very, very good player, he shows it every three days for Brighton,

12:17so we will be aware of him.

12:19But like I said, it's a team effort, it matters about the details,

12:24it matters that we stop the supply, it matters that we get our press right

12:29and push them into the pressure, where we want to have the pressure,

12:36but of course, there are quality players on the pitch.

12:41If you could pass the microphone back and we'll go to Henry next.

12:44Henry.

12:45Hello, my name is Yoichi from Japan.

12:47You talk about Japanese culture, so what kind of Japanese culture do you like?

12:54Well, I had the chance to visit your country, I think twice,

12:58and for football, and the level of how we were welcomed,

13:04the level of hospitality, the level of respect was always outstanding.

13:12It is the way of living, the Japanese way into the way of living,

13:22into coffee shops, into fashion, it's just fascinating to see,

13:25and it's just throughout the culture which is very, very interesting,

13:30and of course very different from our culture,

13:33but it was always a pleasure to spend time in your country,

13:38and to be welcomed and to dive into these kinds of new cultures.

13:43I think you see it in the way that the players were with me,

13:50and they were in the team, the players that I trained.

13:53Like I said, it was very respectful,

13:55and they were the best teammates you can wish for.

13:59Always ready to train, always ready to play, always ready to adapt,

14:03and to do what's necessary for the team.

14:07Very respectful, very humble, and yeah, that's basically it.

14:12You talk about humbleness, but in Japan we declare to win the World Cup this time.

14:21Yeah, officially.

14:23Officially, good.

14:24What do you think about that?

14:25Good, good.

14:26I mean, it's important to dream, I think it's important to dream,

14:29and it's important, not sure if it's important to declare your dreams,

14:34but if you do that, fair enough,

14:36because everyone who's qualified has a chance to win it, of course.

14:40It's important to dream, it's allowed to dream,

14:42and I think it's allowed to have the question hanging around,

14:47like what if, is it possible?

14:49Do we maybe make the unthinkable into a reality?

14:54So, fair enough.

14:55I think you have a strong team, well-coached team with good players.

14:59So, the question is why not?

15:01And the same question for us.

15:04Thomas, hi.

15:05You're obviously totally focused on England,

15:08but when you look or you hear some of the other results,

15:11like France's A team beating Brazil, France's B team beating Colombia,

15:16Spain beating Serbia in the recent days,

15:19where are England compared to those teams?

15:23I don't know.

15:24I don't know, because you cannot compare.

15:26I mean, you saw our line-up and you saw our opponent,

15:30and it's just results, it's just March.

15:34We are happy with the way we did our camp until now.

15:39I like the energy and I like the quality of the camp.

15:42I like the way we played.

15:44I know it was maybe not the nicest watch on TV or in the stadium as a spectator,

15:49but I know against whom we played.

15:51Again, against a well-coached and maybe best possible line-up of Uruguay,

15:58with a lot of new players, a lot of new guys even in camp,

16:03a lot of new guys on the pitch.

16:05And I think we got a lot of things right.

16:09Not throughout the 90 minutes, but in most of the phases we got the things right

16:13that we wanted to get right.

16:14We need to have these kind of tests now to get to know each other better.

16:20And then we have still time.

16:22It's coming fast, but we have still time to be prepared.

16:25And if you turn it around, do you think Brazil will not be prepared in May or June?

16:31I think they will be prepared.

16:34Once you arrive in June in the US, you don't think anymore what you did in March.

16:41You play knockout football and then when it matters, we will be ready.

16:46We tend to have mood swings with the national team.

16:48They're either up there or down there in the space of a half, let alone a game.

16:53But when you look at the squad training today and obviously you're missing some players,

16:57you have total belief in the quality that England have some exceptional players.

17:01Yes, I have total belief and I have total belief that if we get the selection right

17:06and we arrive with a team, this is what I feel now again in camp,

17:10that we're taking steps and steps and steps.

17:12Players want to be part of it, players want to stay in camp,

17:15players want to stay in camp even with the outlook that they don't play,

17:20they're desperate to come, they're enjoying it.

17:23I see all that and I think this is crucial that we arrive with this kind of spirit in the

17:29US.

17:29I strongly believe in the players and the question will be why not.

17:34I think everything is possible but we have to make it possible.

17:37We see now how many injured players it happened to Rafinha for Brazil,

17:43like everyone is almost affected and it is a slight worry.

17:48So this is the main focus to keep our fingers crossed that we have the full selection available.

17:59OK, we'll finish it there, we'll have Elliot Anderson for you shortly.

18:01Part 2

18:02Part 3

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