- 15 minutes ago
Tuchel ahead of Nations League match v Spain at Wembley
25092026
Tottenham Hotspur training ground
25092026
Tottenham Hotspur training ground
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SportsTranscript
00:06Good afternoon, everyone. Welcome to Tottenham Hotspur's training ground for this media conference
00:10with Thomas Tuchel to preview tomorrow's UEFA Nations League fixtureship with Spain.
00:15We do have translation available, so if you do need translation throughout, please make
00:19it known. Otherwise, we will proceed in English as normal. As ever, two questions per person
00:25initially. If we do have time, we will come back to you, so please raise your hand and
00:29I think we'll start here with Rob Dawson.
00:32Thomas, lovely to see you. Are you well?
00:34All good, thank you.
00:35Good man.
00:36Look, you've worked incredibly hard to create that brotherhood and this bond in camp. It's
00:40been something that has dominated you since you took the job, I think, really, following
00:43on a little bit from what Gareth had started. We've now had five players withdraw from this
00:48squad since we last saw you, and there's absolutely no suggestion that they're anything other than
00:53injured and struggling, clearly.
00:54Yeah.
00:54But does it worry you that maybe there's a mood amongst some players at the moment that
00:59England isn't that top priority right now?
01:02I would be surprised after the summer that we, if we had players who would not, would not
01:10have the biggest desire to be in camp with us after they saw and felt what it felt like
01:18and how it was in camp and over the last year. No, that is not my worry. We have a
01:26lot of players
01:27out, even a lot more than only five from the World Cup. I think there's only 15 players with
01:32us who have been with us in the US. So many of them have big personalities and, as you said,
01:40correctly and rightly so. A lot of them were responsible for this mentality and for the brotherhood
01:47and for the team spirit. So I think it's important to acknowledge that we arrive in different sets
01:54of emotions. Some players have been with us, like I said, 15 have been with us for seven weeks
02:01and now it's another long camp. They will maybe feel like, wow, it feels almost like another tournament
02:06straight away. And the other nine is maybe a mix of being still upset or disappointed that they
02:13haven't been selected and the mix of being excited to have the chance to impress. We acknowledge this
02:20mix of emotions, but at the end of the day, it's also the target and the goal to have a
02:28quick turnaround and
02:29focus on what's ahead of us. It's four matches in Nations League.
02:34Someone who is here, who's made no secret of how desperate he is to play for his country every time,
02:38is Trent Alexander-Arnold. He's your only natural right back, I think, in the squad. Plenty of other options
02:45that can play there and you proved that in the tournament itself. But I wanted to gauge your thoughts
02:50on whether he might start against Spain and what you're thinking about.
02:53I will not tell you. Of course, I will not tell you. I wait until the last...
02:57A broader question about your thoughts.
02:59He fights with Jarrell Kwanza for the position and Jarrell played for us in the US
03:05and played against France and played against Mexico. And that's what the competition is
03:13at the moment and Trent is up for the competition. We had, in general, very good training sessions and he
03:19was a
03:19valuable, important part of that. And it's not about words, it's about actions and he will get his chance.
03:27And then he has the chance to impress and take back the shirt.
03:31Amy Lewis, ITV News. In the past you talked about Spain and ball possession being part of their DNA.
03:37Yeah. Does that give them the advantage tomorrow?
03:42I think it's the advantage in general. Not only towards us, but towards everyone. This is how they play. I
03:51think they rely on that.
03:53This is how they train, how they are brought up. And this is how they play football. This is clearly
04:00part of them. But at the moment, I think the more you analyse Spain and the more you analyse their
04:06last matches, the last competitions they played in,
04:10you have to admire. You have to admire the way of how they defend. They added this to their work
04:19against the ball. It's collective work and they are just masters in delaying and masters in pushing you to wide
04:30areas where they can initiate the press.
04:32They have world-class goalkeepers. They have world-class goalkeepers, as you know, three of them. But they are hardly
04:38tested. It is so difficult, obviously, for every single team in the world to create chances against them.
04:46So, we want to, of course, we have a plan and we have ambition and we want to be the
04:52ones who prove the opposite. And we want to be the exception of the rule. But they are, at the
04:58moment, a very complete team.
05:01Just finally, touching on what Rob was saying about players missing, what are you doing as the manager to try
05:09and ensure that that doesn't creep back in?
05:12Because, you know, historically there has been that put-in club before country. What are you doing to ensure that
05:17that doesn't happen?
05:18Well, first of all, like you said, first of all, we trust our players. And second of all, I think
05:27the players know very well that if you miss a camp and if someone else is good in your position,
05:33the competition will always be on.
05:35The doors will always be open and you have to make sure to be available. You have to make sure
05:41to produce top-level performances in camp.
05:44And if you do so, that counts for something. I think right now there is nothing to do. It's not
05:51on my list of worries. I'm not wired like this.
05:54It is what it is from the moment I arrived at SGP. I arrived at SGP on Monday. My full
06:01focus is on the staff who arrived on the same day.
06:05From the moment on Tuesday, the players walk through the door. My focus is 100% with the players who
06:11are there. That's what they deserve and this is how I am wired.
06:14And there is no threat and there is no distrust and there is no threat of consequences now. It will
06:25come naturally.
06:27I truly believe that we have the opposite at the moment. Everyone is desperate to come.
06:33You will talk to our captain who has the most minutes in club and country and is happy to be
06:41here while teammates of him are enjoying a seven or ten days break.
06:49But he wants to be here. That's the role model and that's the vibe that we have at the moment.
06:56So there is no concern.
06:59Can I check specifically on Karl Palmer and the reasons why he withdrew from the squad?
07:06There has been some different information. Maybe it was load management or he got a small injury. What is your
07:13understanding of the situation there?
07:15My understanding is that he plays with discomfort and pain and he cannot compete on the highest level with discomfort
07:22and pain.
07:23So he withdrew and informed us. And Chelsea informed us. That is my understanding. We are not managing load.
07:33When I was in club football, I used the term of an international break. This is, when you hear it
07:40on the other side, a totally different picture.
07:43This is not an international break. And I think that's what we created now. It's a competitive environment, but it's
07:50also an environment where the players love to be at when they walk through the door.
07:54Where they love to train with each other, be with each other. That's what togetherness and brotherhood looks like. And
08:00that's what we created latest from last September in qualification.
08:05And we will never compromise on that. We will never, like your colleagues said, we will never let this creep
08:15in that we have the feeling that players don't want to come.
08:18It's fair enough. But we focus on the guys who absolutely want to play for England.
08:25So given he's, I think he's played five of the six, he's completed four of the five Premier League games
08:34so far this season.
08:35Yeah.
08:36He's playing very, very well.
08:38That's why we nominated him.
08:40Yeah. Is there, and given that you're very loyal to the players that perform for you that are in your
08:46squad, do you view this for Karl Palmer as maybe a missed opportunity to impress you?
08:54For sure. It's a missed opportunity. It's another missed opportunity. He misses too many opportunities and I don't blame him
09:00for it. It's just a fact.
09:01He misses way too many camps with injuries and we can, I only want to rely on what I personally
09:09witness and what I see within my team and for that you have to be in camp.
09:15And if you're not in camp, there's a next level to impress that you cannot achieve because you only can
09:21do it when you're actually with me on the pitch and with us on the pitch.
09:25So yeah, it is a missed opportunity.
09:28Hi Thomas. You mentioned September, October, November last year was such an important period for you.
09:34Yeah.
09:34Obviously the calendar's changed now. You've got these three weeks and then the November. I just wondered, are you kind
09:40of in favour of this new international model?
09:42No, I'm not in favour. After a long tournament, to have another long period is I think like very demanding
09:48emotionally and physically for the players.
09:51I think players would have loved the short window, three short windows.
09:57I really struggle. I can hardly think of club football where you have like also matches and a turnaround that
10:04we have now.
10:04We have Saturday, Tuesday and then another Saturday, Tuesday. So only two days, twice two days in between.
10:10That sounds just too condensed. If you have two and a half weeks time, why is this twice happening with
10:19flights and different countries that we have to play in?
10:24So that feels not 100% right, I have to say. But it is what it is.
10:31We have this window, we used the time, we had very good training sessions so far and we want to
10:38add one more to it.
10:40But listen, it is also the first time for me to do a camp after a big tournament.
10:44It is always a little bit like I said, it can be mixed emotions and we haven't seen each other
10:52since the tournament and there is a new competition going on.
10:56So there is a lot of mixed emotions and a lot of different influences into this camp.
11:07But the longer it goes on, I feel the more the focus is coming back and playing against the reigning
11:13world champions tomorrow will help.
11:16You touched on it there. I think it is four games in 11 days, which is tighter than even anything
11:22you had at the World Cup.
11:23Yes, so this cannot be right for the players after they struggled in having a proper pre-season.
11:30Because we played the tournament until the very last day and then they struggled to decompress and then have no
11:41pre-season.
11:42Basically start after one week, after 10 days, they are back in competitive football.
11:47And this is normally, this is possible, but this is normally what bites you and what comes for you in
11:54exactly these moments,
11:55in November and December and in January, it comes for you when you don't have a proper build-up and
12:03having, like you said correctly,
12:05having an international window with two days in between matches, twice.
12:10It's just, I'm not sure if I like that.
12:13How concerned are you about the prospect of injuries?
12:16Say again?
12:16How concerned are you by the prospect of further injuries?
12:20I watched yesterday a match between the Netherlands and Germany,
12:24and I think after 36 minutes there were already three players injured.
12:29Per se, I think it's not a problem to play the match on Saturday or so far,
12:34and not for them to play it yesterday.
12:38I think more, I'm just thinking out loud, it's maybe a different load, a different environment,
12:44different pitches, different training exercises that increases the risk a little bit for the players,
12:52different style of play maybe than in the clubs, different position for some players.
12:57So, yeah, but we are always on top of the data, we always take care about the players,
13:02players' priority comes first 100%, and on the other hand these players that we have,
13:10they can play four matches in this period of time, is what they do and what they will do in
13:14the clubs
13:15after this international window.
13:18So, I am also not, I don't see the point why we would manage their minutes for the clubs.
13:24We have our own priorities, the players want to win these matches, we want to win,
13:28we want to qualify for the quarter-finals in Nations League.
13:31So, we will take care, we will be responsible, but we have our own motives and our own goals to
13:37reach.
13:38Hi, Thomas. As you mentioned, this is the first camp after the World Cup.
13:43Where are you restarting from and how much Euros 2028 is in the picture now?
13:52Yes and no. So, we are restarting, it's a new competition,
13:55but we all have the feeling that we are not starting from scratch,
13:59we don't have to start completely new, we have something to build on.
14:04And we trust our process, it's always our target to improve the process and make the process better,
14:11to stay competitive and take next steps.
14:14That's what we are trying to do.
14:16So, for 2028, I think Nations League gives us the platform for very good preparation.
14:24My assessment of the World Cup was that it's very difficult, maybe impossible,
14:30to prepare for these matches against nations from different continents,
14:37who come in a knockout, especially in knockout football.
14:43The pride, the commitment, the level of physicality of these opponents is just one of a kind.
14:49And you don't get it in a European World Cup qualifier,
14:52you just experience it when it's the moment and it's a high-pressure moment.
14:57I think playing now in this super-difficult group with Croatia, Spain and Czech Republic
15:03gives us exactly, in two matches away and at home,
15:07gives us exactly what we will face in the Euros.
15:12And, of course, the target for us is to complete another cycle of ten matches.
15:17The target is quarter-final, the target is to go to the final four
15:20and hopefully stretch out this period.
15:24Because it's not a preparation tournament, I want to have this clear.
15:28It is in itself, then, a preparation tournament,
15:30but it's not a preparation tournament in our minds.
15:33It's an isolated competition that we will try to win
15:37and to go as long as possible.
15:41You face Spain tomorrow defending European champions, defending World champions.
15:45What can you learn from a game like this against arguably the best team in the world?
15:50A lot, a lot.
15:52Like, how do we attack, how do we defend?
15:55And, like I said, it's impressive how they defend,
15:59how invested they are and how well-drilled they are
16:02and added this kind of level to their game.
16:07So, it's very difficult to beat them, but we are ambitious and we are hungry.
16:11We just come from an impressive victory against France.
16:15So, this is just the next possibility.
16:19Playing Argentina, France and Spain in such a short moment of time is very unique.
16:25We have, I think, sold out to Wembley and was straight away sold out.
16:30So, the excitement is there.
16:31The players are focused and determined and that's where we are.
16:40I've been a lot of talk this week about the style of play that England can and can't play,
16:45perhaps in comparison to Spain.
16:47What do you want to see from your team in terms of that approach at Wembley tomorrow?
16:51Well, we went through all the phases.
16:54We had a defensive day, we had yesterday the offensive play in our own half
17:00and today is the offensive play in the opponent's half.
17:04We need a complete performance that is very clear if we want to have a chance to beat them,
17:11but we want to be the team to beat them and we want to prove a point.
17:17I don't see the time and the value to copy Spain and think the copy can be better than the
17:24original.
17:24I don't see the true point in it.
17:28That does not mean that we ignore what they are doing good.
17:31Like I said, we look at their defensive record, we look at their defensive patterns, for example,
17:37which sounds maybe unusual, but that's actually what's happening because it's on the highest level.
17:50That's the approach.
17:52Last week you said about perhaps it's time to embrace the chaos and certain moments embrace the chaos.
17:57Anthony Gordon this week was saying about maybe we should lean into traditional English values.
18:02I think we do this, yeah. I think we do.
18:06I think we do and we have to do it maybe for a bit of a longer period
18:11and especially under pressure and especially maybe from behind.
18:15But I think we do this, I think we play very direct, I think we carry a lot the ball,
18:19I think we worship set pieces.
18:26I think there are a lot of things in our game that reflect the English approach to the game,
18:33being direct, being physical.
18:35We go and we try to implement the high press in the opponent's half.
18:39Not a lot of other nations do this, so we try to have a man-man approach in the opponent's
18:47half.
18:47But there are elements in our game that we can improve, have to improve.
18:53But I agree with Anthony.
18:55It is to lean into our strengths, modify our strengths and take from the best teams,
19:02especially from the best national teams because they have the same amount of time to train it.
19:06Otherwise, it becomes a bit of an unfair comparison.
19:10If you look at the top teams in Europe, they train it every day and maybe for several years.
19:16It is just difficult to copy that.
19:20But for other nations, of course, we take the best and look how they do it
19:26and try to adapt and improve our model.
19:33Hi, Thomas. Elliot from BCOMS.
19:36Just adding on to that, this England squad has players that regularly top the performance data charts
19:43for goals, high-speed sprints, duels and tackles on a weekly basis.
19:47Say again, please.
19:49The England squad has players in their respective leagues that top the data charts for sprints,
19:56tackles, duels and high-speed runs.
19:59For the national team to be successful in the Nations League and the Euros on home soil in 2028,
20:04how important is it for you to lean into these strengths and form a team that wins games
20:09and minimizes the risk of weakness?
20:14Every style of play comes with a weakness.
20:17It's just like that, but I think it's almost the same question.
20:21I think it's important to acknowledge these kinds of strengths.
20:25This is what our players produce and this is where they feel comfortable in, by the way,
20:29and this is how they want to play.
20:33And then we try to add, like I said, we try to add elements.
20:39For example, also defending in a deep block, defending in a mid block,
20:43because it comes against top nations in high-pressure moments.
20:46There come moments where other nations, other teams pushes you back.
20:53We can improve in that and we will improve.
20:55And maybe defending in a deep block has not so much.
20:59You cannot collect high-speed runs in defending in a deep block.
21:02Yeah, it's maybe a little bit against what we want to do non-stop.
21:08But we are up for that. The players are up for that.
21:11And we will add hopefully this, or we're trying to add this to our characteristic of our game
21:17to make us more complete and make us more compact, more competitive,
21:22and try to close this gap that's getting narrow and narrow.
21:28Thank you, Thomas.
21:29Two more to go. Alex.
21:31Hi, Thomas.
21:31Hi.
21:32Just on the style and things of Spain, the way they play,
21:36have you had to prepare the players potentially,
21:38which could happen if Spain dominate the ball or are controlling the game,
21:43if the fans were to get frustrated, particularly after the World Cup?
21:47Particularly after the World Cup? What does that mean?
21:50Just the frustration of how England went out in the semi-final.
21:53OK.
21:56Well, listen, Spain is doing what they do.
21:59They try to wear you down.
22:02They are not taking every opportunity to attack straight forward.
22:07They are happy to take passes. They are happy to be patient.
22:11They are happy to wear you down.
22:14So you cannot be too greedy in the wrong moments.
22:19You will just lose energy and open gaps.
22:22So we need to pick our moments when to press.
22:26Of course this can happen, but I cannot influence the atmosphere.
22:33I would be very surprised if the atmosphere would hold a third play
22:40or an exit in an 85th-minute semi-final against us and against our team.
22:45That would surprise me a lot.
22:47Why would they like the time of how fast it sold out?
22:52It just shows me that everyone is excited to come and watch.
22:56But that's the reality of it.
22:58Spain makes it hard for you to play a high-intensive game
23:01because they are happy to control the ball
23:03and they are happy to control the rhythm.
23:05This is what they do.
23:07There can be spells where we have to suffer
23:10and where we will maybe suffer.
23:12But there are hopefully also spells where we dominate
23:15and can bring the attributes that make us strong and hurt other teams.
23:22So let's see how it plays out.
23:25Thomas, hi. Good luck tomorrow.
23:27Were you tempted to have two squads like Jürgen did?
23:30Or did the flow of the itinerary make it impossible?
23:34I didn't think about it and then when he did it I see the idea behind.
23:42I think I would have maybe done it if it was also my first camp.
23:47My mindset is in a completely different place at the moment.
23:55Before I knew who is available and not,
23:57I thought we have a continuation of the World Cup
24:00and rely heavily on the players that were with us
24:05and try to build and build and bring this kind of energy
24:09to our home stadium, to Wembley and go from there.
24:14Now that we are only 15 players who were at the World Cup,
24:19this is a little bit different but still it's enough to rely on these players.
24:25So if possible, I think I will not rotate so much during the next four matches,
24:35but we will be responsible towards the health of the player, of course.
24:44James Garner won a European under-21 title at right-back with England.
24:50Is he a possibility at some point?
24:53He is, but normally I would say if we have no injuries and no emergencies,
24:59he competes for one of the two spots in central midfield,
25:02with one of the four players, but he is an option.
25:07We know he hasn't played there recently,
25:09but he can play there and is an alternative for Trent and Giroud.
25:13Thank you very much, we will have Harry Canby shortly.
25:16Good.
25:16I won't take the law back it.
25:17Thank you very much.