“It’s not ideal he’s in newspapers” – Thomas Tuchel explains Jack Grealish absence from England World Cup Qualifiers Squad
Thomas Tuchel has pointed to the noise around Jack Grealish off the pitch to explain the Manchester City forward’s exclusion from England’s World Cup qualifiers squad.
Grealish was snubbed by Gareth Southgate from the England squad that reached the final of last summer’s European Championship, losing narrowly to Spain.
The Manchester City record signing is expected to leave the club at the end of the season as things stand, having struggled for form and fitness since his heroics over the course of the Blues’ treble-winning 2022-23 season.
Pep Guardiola decided against calling on Grealish when City desperately need a cutting edge in attack after Callum Hudson-Odoi scored in the 83rd minute for Nottingham Forest against the reigning Premier League champions at the City Ground last week.
Grealish has been up to the mark in training, Guardiola has said, which could point to some minutes against Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday.
The former Aston Villa captain made the headlines when he was seen leaving a pub in Newcastle on a day off – which Guardiola said he had no problem with and that he would only judge Grealish based on his performances in training and on matchday.
However, it does seem that time is running out for the Birmingham-born forward to prove his mettle at the Etihad Stadium, given that he has only justified his signing in one of his four seasons yet in Manchester.
Grealish failed to make the cut for Thomas Tuchel’s first squad as England Head Coach announced on Friday, with Marcus Rashford earning a spot owing to his renewed form since a January loan move from Manchester United to Aston Villa.
“I love Jack Grealish. I love everything about him; his personality, his quality. The guy has courage, can take the heat, not afraid of the Bernabeu whistles when he’s on the ball, it does not affect him, it affects him only in the best way,” Tuchel said on Grealish in a press conference on Friday.
“Is he a player who should be available and have an impact in our (England) squad? Yes, 100%. But lately, he simply has no rhythm and he and I agree 100%. He said, ‘Thomas, I’m not a start-stop player. It’s so hard for me to influence a match from the bench and be on the bench again, and two weeks later start again’.
“I’m not judging anyone, but it’s just a characteristic of Jack, he gets better with every minute. The more he plays the better he gets and then he becomes a proper machine.”
Commenting on the spotlight on Grealish away from football, Tuchel added: “He has a character that can be the glue in the (England) team. But this comes with responsibility off the pitch and it’s not ideal he’s in newspapers and in public. But it’s maybe also not only his fault,” as per the Evening Standard.
“You (the media) are happy to write about it, happy to bring it out in public. Everyone, not only you guys, has a phone. The guys are famous and public figures. This can happen. It’s not ideal, we want to have him more calm. No one wants to have it, but this was not the reason for not picking him. It was sporting.”
Topics
-
Grealish must show 'responsibility' off the pitch: Tuchel
Thomas Tuchel admits Jack Grealish must show "responsibility" off the pitch despite insisting he did not leave the Manchester City star out of his first England squad because of his behaviour.But ...Yahoo Sports - 15h -
Thomas Tuchel: I love Jack Grealish – but he must show more responsibility off the pitch
Thomas Tuchel has warned Jack Grealish that he must show responsibility off the pitch as well as on it – but insisted that the star’s private life is not the reason for his England omission.Yahoo Sports - 16h -
Pick your England XI for World Cup qualifiers using Tuchel's squad
Who would you select to start for England in the upcoming World Cup qualifiers in Thomas Tuchel's first matches in charge?BBC News - 1d -
Thomas Tuchel explains controversial decision to recall Jordan Henderson for England
The 34-year-old Ajax midfielder was a shock inclusion in Tuchel’s first squad as Three Lions boss for World Cup qualifiers against Albania and LatviaYahoo Sports - 1d -
England squad announcement as it happened: Thomas Tuchel explains Henderson and Rashford recalls
The new England manager held a press conference after announcing his first Three Lions squad ahead of World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Latvia at WembleyYahoo Sports - 1d -
Foden named in first Tuchel England squad
Phil Foden has been named in new England manager Thomas Tuchel's first squadThe City playmaker is the only representative from the Club to be included, with Jack Grealish and Rico Lewis missing ...Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Pick your England XI for World Cup qualifiers
Who would you select to start for England in the upcoming World Cup qualifiers in Thomas Tuchel's first matches in charge?Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Marcus Rashford and Jordan Henderson in Thomas Tuchel’s first England squad
Myles Lewis-Skelly, Dan Burn, Jarell Quansah selected No place for Grealish, Gibbs-White or Gallagher Thomas Tuchel has named Marcus Rashford in his first England squad, bringing the Aston Villa ...The Guardian - 1d -
Jack Grealish has to respond after missing out on selection for England
Yesterday saw England manager Thomas Tuchel name his first England squad. There were eyebrows raised with some of the selections Tuchel made. One player who missed on selection in Tuchel’s England ...Yahoo Sports - 12h
More from Yahoo Sports
-
Lightning's Nikita Kucherov back on the ice ahead of matchup in Boston
Nikita Kucherov did not play in a Lightning 4-3 shootout loss to the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday because due to an illness, but he was back on the ice for practice in Boston on Friday.Yahoo Sports - 15m -
Chelsea wins Women's League Cup final for first trophy in quadruple bid
Chelsea’s quadruple bid in women’s soccer is up and running. A 2-1 win over Manchester City in the Women’s League Cup final on Saturday earned Chelsea its first piece of silverware this season. ...Yahoo Sports - 16m -
Best free agents available for Colts after first wave of NFL signings
After the first wave of free agency, who are the best available free agents still out there for the Indianapolis Colts?Yahoo Sports - 16m -
Day 5 of Lions free agency - Medical recap of the players Detroit has signed
Day 5 of Lions free agency - Medical recap of the players Detroit has signedYahoo Sports - 23m -
Penn State's top RB commitment books official visits to Notre Dame and UNC
Penn State commit Messiah Mickens will take official visits with a former Penn State assistant and a living football coaching legend.Yahoo Sports - 23m
More in Sports
-
Men's Bracketology: UNC slides back out for a potential bid thief
The Tar Heels and other bubble teams (i.e., Texas) are at the mercy of a busy Saturday slate -- and especially the Mountain West championship game.ESPN - 10m -
Lightning's Nikita Kucherov back on the ice ahead of matchup in Boston
Nikita Kucherov did not play in a Lightning 4-3 shootout loss to the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday because due to an illness, but he was back on the ice for practice in Boston on Friday.Yahoo Sports - 15m -
Chelsea wins Women's League Cup final for first trophy in quadruple bid
Chelsea’s quadruple bid in women’s soccer is up and running. A 2-1 win over Manchester City in the Women’s League Cup final on Saturday earned Chelsea its first piece of silverware this season. ...Yahoo Sports - 16m -
Best free agents available for Colts after first wave of NFL signings
After the first wave of free agency, who are the best available free agents still out there for the Indianapolis Colts?Yahoo Sports - 16m -
Day 5 of Lions free agency - Medical recap of the players Detroit has signed
Day 5 of Lions free agency - Medical recap of the players Detroit has signedYahoo Sports - 23m