England’s appointment of Thomas Tuchel as Gareth Southgate’s successor has caused great division, but most can agree that the German manager is among the elite of his craft.
Of course, Tuchel comes into this position after a distinctly unsuccessful spell at Bayern Munich, but a role that won’t define his career or tarnish his reputation – one he’s been building since the age of 25 after a knee injury ended prematurely. game days
The highly experienced manager has achieved success across a number of grounds at club level, with his compatibility with the England job undeniable. Tuchel may not know the words to the national anthem, but his command of the language and the ‘English game’ are both pristine.
“I’ve felt a personal connection to the game in this country for a long time, and it’s already given me some incredible moments.” said Tuchel on his appointment. His task is mammoth, but the German usually thrives when thrown into the deep end.
Southgate was a lovely lad who deserves immense credit for guiding the Three Lions through their most prosperous period in generations. However, it was his tactical shortcomings and limitations as a coach that ultimately prevented him from bringing football home. Tuchel doesn’t have those drawbacks, and here are some of the changes the German will make to secure his tenure with England silver back
Tuchel isn’t wedded to any particular philosophy, and we shouldn’t label the German a “defensive-minded” manager because his teams have historically been defensively strong. Tuchel is a preacher of a fluid and brilliant possession game that aims to control matches through fierce gegen pressure.
The 51-year-old is certainly pragmatic, though, and his departure from idealism means Tuchel has an exceptional record in knockout games. Excluding Super Cups and domestic equivalents, Tuchel has won over 70% of those matches and has shown his tactical prowess on the biggest stage.
He remains the only manager to have guided PSG to the Champions League final and is credited with delivering a masterclass on the sidelines as Chelsea beat Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City in the 2021 final.
Tuchel’s flexibility and willingness to adapt to his opponent for the game adds a chameleon-like aspect to his teams. At Chelseafor example, he could deploy a 3-4-3 or a 3-5-2; a Borussia Dortmunda 4-3-2-1 or 4-3-3; and PSG, a 4-3-1-2 or a 4-2-2-2.
Southgate also offered a willingness to adjust tactically during tournaments, but usually systematic changes were made to match an opponent rather than gain an advantage over them. The quarter-finals with Switzerland at Euro 2024 is a good example.
Southgate offered some tactical flexibility, but what he rarely showed was the ability to change the course of a game through systematic alterations that transcend similar personnel substitutions.
Tuchel’s pragmatism and tactical unpredictability have been key to his success in the knockout games, but so has his willingness to play the game.
Despite the lack of elite managers on the international stage, there may be times when Tuchel has outdone himself and England struggle to get into the game. The opposition may have caught the Three Lions off guard with a tactical nod of their own. However, while Southgate may have been baffled and pleased by the lack of proactivity, Tuchel will be constantly thinking of ways to outplay his opponent and regain the upper hand.
He is a master problem solver and always reacts quickly. His management of the game has long been regarded as one of the best, with Tuchel humble enough to admit that his initial set-up may have been wrong.
“My role is that of a service provider: I’m here to help and support the players,” Tuchel explained long ago when he was in charge of Borussia Dortmund. The German has thrived against less talented and ego-laden teams, with England’s current crop leaning towards the latter on that continuum.
Balance is critical to success on the international stage, and it won’t take long for Tuchel to sort it out. However, for the sake of tactical stability, the German may have to sacrifice one or two of England’s superstars.
Southgate had a good understanding of balance before deciding to play without a left-hander at Euro 2024, while Lee Carsley’s experiment in piling on your creative superstars failed miserably in a recent defeat in Greece and, it will certainly deter the new manager from repeating this mistake.
Not all of England’s brightest stars will make Tuchel’s strongest XI, and the German will not hesitate to sacrifice individual magic in favor of the collective, but will also shine on his winning platforms. He stumbled with impressive tactical balance PSG when no other manager could, and should, have no problem with the Three Lions assuming he is content to drop a few big names.
Tuchel will not succumb to the wishes of the media or the masses.
