Thomas Tuchel has promised to prove he is the right man for England when he officially starts work as manager of the national team in the new year.
Former Chelsea and Bayern Munich boss Tuchel was on hand at Friday’s World Cup qualifying draw in Zurich, where he told reporters he had “no hard feelings” towards critics of his appointment as Gareth Southgate’s successor, but believes he can deliver for the Three Lions.
“Of course, (the reaction) will always be mixed,” Tuchel said. “So now I have to prove myself and to the people who are maybe a bit concerned – to prove to them how much it means for me and that it’s a dream job for me that I will give everything. And that I’m the man for the job.”
Tuchel delayed his start to allow interim boss Lee Carsley to see out the Nations League campaign, but will formally start work on January 1.
He has pledged to retain Harry Kane as skipper, calling the Bayern forward a “top captain”, but has offered a clean slate to all players – potentially good news for the likes of Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford, and Raheem Sterling, among those to have lost their international places recently.
Arsenal defender Ben White, who has not played for England since he left the 2022 World Cup early, will also get the chance to return.
“I will reach out to him,” Tuchel said of White. “It should be a clean start and a clear narrative.
“I will be in the stadiums from January. I will also not distract the players and they should just know: ‘Okay, the boss is there from January’.”
White would give Tuchel extra options defensively. He started his career as a centre-back but has been converted into a right back by Gunners boss Mikel Arteta.
He has played four times for England at senior level, making his debut in a Euro 2020 warm-up match against Austria. He was included in the squads for Euro 2020 and the 2022 World Cup under Southgate, but did not feature in either tournament.
White is currently sidelined after undergoing a minor knee operation last month.
Tuchel was speaking after a draw which paired England with Serbia, Albania, Latvia and Andorra in Group K for next year’s qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup finals.
The German has been on a break since leaving Bayern in the summer, with his appointment as England boss on an 18-month deal having been announced in October.
“I feel good,” Tuchel said. “I feel full of energy, and I can’t wait to be back on the pitch and be close to the players and feel them, and feel the dressing room. It’s the best (place) you can be.”
