England coach shocks by admitting he likes to 'provoke' Bellingham

Coach Thomas Tuchel attracts notice by confessing his desire to maintain tension with Jude Bellingham following the Real Madrid star’s return to the England team.

Thomas Tuchel has just included Jude Bellingham back in the England squad after a long absence. The Real Madrid midfielder was previously left out despite recovering from a shoulder injury, raising doubts about his relationship with the German coach.

The 22-year-old star has not played for England since a controversial interview in June, when Tuchel stated his mother once described the player's behavior as “disgusting.” At that time, the 51-year-old coach also labeled Bellingham as “rebellious” and suggested he could “threaten” teammates in the locker room.

However, ahead of the upcoming qualifiers against Serbia and Albania, Tuchel surprisingly confirmed Bellingham remains the top choice for the number 10 position. He said: “Jude possesses sharpness and courage to reach the peak at such a young age. The key is for us to create an environment that allows him to channel that positively.”

When asked if a tense relationship with a star player is appropriate, Tuchel frankly replied: “Yes, absolutely appropriate, as long as respect is maintained. I am not their friend, I am the coach. I want players to understand and uphold the team’s standards.”

In the previous call-up, both Bellingham and Phil Foden were omitted, while Morgan Rogers was given a chance and shone in the 5-0 win over Serbia. Now, both young stars have returned after impressive club performances. Tuchel also assured he will not push Foden just to fit him into the squad.

“Jude returns as the number 10, which is his best position. Phil needs to play centrally, where he feels confident and has many connections around him,”Tuchel shared. The German coach believes that with a clear role, Foden can fully express his creativity and joy in playing.

Will the tension Tuchel mentions become a catalyst for Bellingham to shine in the England jersey?

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