Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka were ‘desperate’ to play for England – Thomas Tuchel
By Simon Peach, Press Association Chief Football Writer
Thomas Tuchel says Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka were desperate to play for England but felt the risk of the Arsenal duo aggravating injuries was “way too big” at this stage of the season.
The German coach picked an expanded 35-man squad for the final camp before making his World Cup selection, with the first wave of players joined by 11 established names on Friday.
Rice and Saka were among the late arrivals but, having watched the 1-1 draw with Uruguay at Wembley, were among five injury withdrawals the following day, along with Arsenal team-mate Noni Madueke.
The fact 10 of the Premier League leaders’ players have withdrawn from their respective national teams in recent days has raised suspicions of club taking precedence over country but Tuchel dismissed such talk.
“They joined, had a medical assessment, wanted desperately to play, to just get the narrative straight,” the England boss said of Rice and Saka. “Wanted desperately to be involved.
“But it made just no sense to take this risk. If it would have been maybe a last game of the season, we would have kept them and tried everything. But in this moment of the season, it did not make sense.
“The risk for making it worse was just way too big. They were both clearly in discomfort when we did the medical assessment, so it made absolutely no sense that they stayed.”
On Arsenal winger Madueke, who left Wembley in a knee brace after starting against Uruguay, Tuchel said: “The assessment was then with a picture slightly better than his feeling, but he will be out for some days.”
Tuchel added on talkSPORT: “Everyone can do the maths and it’s a lot of players, of course, and during the situation, it looks a bit suspicious, but I can only talk for our players.”
Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton pulled out with an issue that was “more discomfort than a big injury”, with John Stones also leaving before Tuesday’s friendly against Japan.
The 31-year-old defender was due to start against Uruguay only to pick up a calf issue that has seen him return to Manchester City, where he has only made five appearances since last playing for England in November.
“It’s not ideal,” Tuchel said. “It’s not ideal for John and not for us, of course, and John was gutted that he had this minor incident again, which was not a big injury but given the history we had to be careful.
“It did make no sense to push him through and try stuff to make things even worse. He has a lot of credit with me in the bank still.
“He is a key player for us, as a starter or as a substitute, because of his quality but also his mentality and the personality, and how he is as a character.
“He’s a big part in my plans still but like everyone he has to be fit. Once we make the team selection, he has to be fit and there is no big exception for that. Let’s wait how it plays out.”
Tuchel says pullouts are disappointing but part and parcel of this stage of the season due to the mammoth toll on players.
“It’s disappointing, but I’m not upset with the players,” the England boss said. “I’m not angry with the players.
“I got the feeling that everyone was desperate to come. Some of the injured players even stayed to do their treatment here, start their treatment here. That just shows me they want to be around the group.”
