Thomas Tuchel has clarified Declan Rice’s England absence while delivering a much sharper message over Cole Palmer’s latest withdrawal.
Thomas Tuchel has confirmed that Declan Rice is carrying an injury, while also questioning Cole Palmer’s repeated absence from England duty.
England have suffered five withdrawals for the current international break, prompting scrutiny of players missing national-team camps.
In Rice’s case, there is little argument that he has been heavily used. The Arsenal midfielder played more than 60 matches last season before going to the World Cup, where he was not given a break.
Even so, there have been suggestions that there is nothing wrong with him, something England captain Harry Kane has already addressed.
“I spoke to Dec, and I know Dec goes far and beyond for the club and country, so I know how much he gives and I know he’s been struggling for a while with his issues,” Kane said.
“Someone like Dec has to get himself sorted and get himself fresh, and he has big games for club, big games for country coming up.
“Dec just reached out to me just personally. He just sent me a message, just kind of voice noted me. They don’t have to talk to me. I know they spoke to the coach.”
Speaking ahead of England’s game against Spain on Saturday, Tuchel addressed the withdrawals and confirmed that Rice has been struggling.
“Every case is individual,” he said.
“I saw [Rice] play against Brighton [last Saturday] and saw straight away on TV that something was off, and he just confirmed that impression.
“I knew from Marcus [Rashford] and Kobbie [Mainoo] that they played with discomfort and they try to be available for their clubs.
“I know that it looks strange if a player, not only Cole [Palmer], but Kobbie and Marcus, finish [a match] at the weekend for their clubs and then suddenly are not here, but we trust the players. I have no reason not to trust them because they were with us in the US and they were fantastic.”
Those comments came after Tuchel had questioned Palmer’s withdrawal, raising doubts over the Chelsea player’s England future under the German manager.
Palmer was not selected for the World Cup and has played 578 minutes this season. He initially withdrew from the current extended international break because of ‘load management’.
By comparison, Martin Odegaard, who missed more matches through injury last season than Palmer, 30 to 26, did go to the World Cup and is now away with Norway for the next few weeks.
He has already played 570 minutes this season.
Tuchel was direct when asked what advice he would give Palmer as a friend.
“I am not his friend,” he said bluntly. “I am his national team coach and I can only judge him on what he is delivering for the national team, and he is just missing too many opportunities.
“He [Palmer] misses too many opportunities. I don’t blame him for it. It is just a fact. He misses way too many camps with injuries, and I only want to rely on what I witness and see within my team, and for that you have to be in camp. If you’re not in camp, there is a next level to impress that you cannot achieve, because you can only do it when you are actually on the pitch with me.”
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