Copyright dailymail
Thomas Tuchel is open to staying on as England manager beyond the World Cup - and could even sign a new deal before next summer. For the first time, the German has given a strong indication of his desire to remain in position for the European Championship in 2028, co-hosted by England. He agreed a deal to take him to the end of next year’s World Cup in North America when he arrived in January. But after negotiating passage to the finals with two games to spare, Tuchel admits he has every reason to continue in a job that he believes is bringing the best out of him. ‘If everyone, the FA is happy with me, there's always the possibility (to stay on), but the focus is now for this camp,’ he said, after revealing his squad for next week’s World Cup qualifiers against Serbia and Albania. ‘It's a lot of fun, especially since we're on track in the last two camps. There is nothing to announce at the moment, but I'm very happy with the way things go. I think the federation is quite happy with the way things are, but I have to prove myself here. The rest will take care of itself. ‘I'm in a good place mentally because I love the team. I love the support from the federation and I love the direction where it's heading. We have time for it (a new contract).’ Tuchel spent 18 years in club management before taking up the England post, and he added: ‘I know from many years what makes me happy and what brings the best out of me. I feel re-energised and I love to work with the players and be close to the Premier League. ‘I know also the level of support and trust that I have. I feel that and I know very well I need that to be the best version of myself. There is everything in place and I’m very relaxed. 'I was the one in the first place to push for a short contract, to streamline it and go to the World Cup, because I was not fully aware of the job and what is needed and the demands. The focus is towards the World Cup and the federation knows that I’m happy and they feel it. They play a big part in me feeling good and re-energised.’ Would he rule out signing an extension before the World Cup? ‘No, of course not,’ he said. ‘But it’s not a demand.’ Meanwhile, Tuchel says he has no issues with Jude Bellingham, after he recalled the Real Madrid midfielder to his squad having left him out last month. The England boss has spoken previously about his want for his players to be good team-mates. It was in June that he revealed his own mother found some of Bellingham’s on-field behaviour ‘repulsive’. He also claimed the 22-year-old could ‘intimidate’ his colleagues. But Tuchel said: ‘There is no problem with him, there is no problem with the character. Jude just has the edge. It is a very good thing because you need a certain edge to reach the heights that he reached. We all need to help him and encourage him and create an environment which he can live this edge towards the opponents and towards the goals we are building as a team, to provide this edge for us in a positive way.' Tuchel says his decision to omit him from the October squad, despite Bellingham declaring himself fit following shoulder surgery, was more so a message to those players he did pick. ‘It was more of a message to the guys who were in camp rather than a message for Jude, because there was no need for that,’ he said. ‘(It was) for the guys to keep their place, even if a guy like Jude, like Phil (Foden), like other big names are knocking on the door and claiming their right to be back. ‘Now that they are coming back, Phil and Jude, the message is now, “Make sure you keep this thing going and make sure you accelerate the thing because we have something going here, we are building something, we are super-excited that you are back but the message is - contribute to it”.’
