New England boss Thomas Tuchel worked with Callum Hudson-Odoi when he was Chelsea manager and at a time when he was in contention for the full Three Lions squad
The appointment of Thomas Tuchel as the next manager of the England national football team and Gareth Southgate’s replacement has been confirmed.
The 51-year-old is known for creating teams that contend for the sport’s biggest trophies and is a serial winner. His brief with the Three Lions will be that.
His name is already well-known in English football because he managed Chelsea for 20 months, helping them win the UEFA Super Cup, FIFA World Club Cup, and a second Champions League championship.
From January 2021 to September 2022, Tuchel worked with Callum Hudson-Odoi, a current Nottingham Forest star. He gave the teenager a fair amount of first team experience before sending him on loan to Bayer Leverkusen, one month before the German left the Blues.
Although Hudson-Odoi spent a large portion of his playing time under Tuchel at Chelsea in a different position rather than as a winger, the possibility of the two being reunited at the international level may come with a warning.
Tuchel also worked with Hudson-Odoi when he turned down the opportunity to play for the England Under-21s in August 2021. Hudson-Odoi had already earned three senior caps in 2019 and Tuchel believed he should be called up to the entire team.Hudson-Odoi opted to stay with his team in order to advocate for more local football.
“It has nothing to do with the club’s or my opinion; it’s his decision. If I were to venture a guess, I would say it has to do with dissatisfaction that he was not selected for the first team, but it’s also possible that he didn’t play enough minutes to qualify. Although I could see the benefit of playing more minutes and playing a key part for the Under 21s, he made a different decision, therefore he will have to face the repercussions.
Then, in September 2021, Tuchel stated of Hudson-Odoi: “He knows the group and we know him very well. He can play as a right wing-back, left wing-back, and in these extra positions.”
Tuchel would later acknowledge that it was a significant request for the young player, asking, “Was it always fair to let him play as a wing-back? No, perhaps not. He took this for the team because he had to. He was constantly upbeat. He had the proper attitude.
“We saw what he could do on the left side during his excellent preseason. He first had some difficulty proving that point during games, but now that he was injured, he had to step up and perform.
He did this since it was necessary for him to gain a spot on the team. Performance is everything, and he demonstrates it in the moment.
Hudson-Odoi acknowledged such circumstance in an October 2022 interview with The Athletic, stating: “At times, it was okay.” But occasionally, I ask myself, “What am I doing? Why am I in this position?” I like to defend rather than attack. I always tried to give it my all and support the team, regardless of where I was playing; it’s not just about me. I simply got on with it without ever arguing.
However, you must play where you feel most at ease and perform at your highest level if you want to bring out the best in yourself.
I would never speak negatively about him or disparage him in any way. Both on and off the pitch, he was consistently a nice man. Simply put, you have to battle for your spot and put in your best effort because the squad has so many outstanding players.
“Working with him was challenging at times, but you must move forward and do what you can.”
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