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Thomas Tuchel insisted there is “no problem” with Jude Bellingham after he recalled the Real Madrid star and Phil Foden to the England fold. But now the Three Lions boss has the conundrum of integrating the two young stars into a team to win the World Cup alongside the irreplaceable Harry Kane . Succeed and Tuchel can name his price for any new contract. Bellingham and Foden were absent from the last two England squads where Tuchel’s side won four games and sealed World Cup qualification. The team chemistry was clearly right. Bellingham, 22, was returning from a shoulder injury in September but was overlooked last month when Tuchel stayed loyal to a winning squad with a strong chemistry. Now both Bellingham and Foden return for the two remaining Group K games against the Serbians and Albania competing for the playmaker’s role - and the Real Madrid star’s future is still the central talking point. Tuchel apologised after stating in a June interview - given in a foreign language - that his mother finds some of Bellingham’s on-field antics "repulsive". It is still a sensitive subject - and a flapping FA press officer stopped further questioning about the 22-year-old during the newspaper briefing at Wembley on Friday. It is not going to make the issue go away. And Bellingham appears to be on probation. But the German insisted: “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 at this young age. It is now necessary that we provide an environment to provide this edge for us in a positive way, and win football games, and help us win football games.” An edge can cut both ways. And in his now infamous talkSPORT interview about Bellingham, Tuchel also claimed other players found him "intimidating". The England manager stated: “I don't go back to this interview because you will just quote me on it and it will just create another confusion. I talked to you about it, I talked to Jude about it. It's water under the bridge.” And speaking hypothetically, Tuchel insisted he had no problem with creative tension between a coach and players. “Yes, it's absolutely appropriate, if there is, assuming there is, but at a certain level it's no problem,” he said. What's your take on the latest England squad? Share your thoughts in the comments below Bellingham has scored three goals in his last four games, including the winner in El Clasico. “He did what he does best,” said the German. “He competed on the highest level, and he showed that he deserves and has to be in the squad. Tuchel stated Bellingham was back as a No.10 to play off Kane. “I think that's his best position,” he said. But in 35 games together for England, the two have only combined for one goal when Bellingham provided the assist for Kane to score against Scotland back in September 2023. “At some point it's the responsibility of the players to show the connection,” Tuchel said. Kane is the only natural No.9 in the 25-man squad with Ollie Watkins rested and Danny Welbeck not recalled after scoring six goals in six games. The Brighton striker, 34, won his last cap in 2018. “We can see what he can bring and it was a close one,” said Tuchel. The No.10 role is less clearcut with Tuchel favourite Morgan Rogers playing that role recently. And Tuchel said Foden, who returns for the first time since the German coach's first camp in March, is also competing for the position after showing his old form with two midweek Champions League goals. "The main thing with Phil is that he gets a role in the central part of the pitch," said the England boss. "I don't see him as a winger at the moment, and maybe not any more. "He should have a central role. I think that brings out his strengths. That is how we hopefully can help him where he finds an environment where there’s maybe more clarity about what we demand in the position to express his childish joy to play football, because that’s what he does at the moment.” Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us - and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
