England manager Thomas Tuchel ready to 'ruffle feathers' and 'upset a few people' - Joe Cole and Peter Crouch
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Published 16/10/2024 at 20:38 GMT+1
Thomas Tuchel was announced as the new permanent England manager on Wednesday, becoming Gareth Southgate's permanent successor. Peter Crouch and Joe Cole were both delighted with the appointment, insisting the German will not shirk big decisions in big moments. Cole, though, admitted his disappointment that the FA and England have not produced any managers of Tuchel's calibre.
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Video credit: SNTV
Peter Crouch believes Thomas Tuchel is prepared to “ruffle feathers” and drop big players if it means success for England.
The former Chelsea and Bayern Munich manager was announced as the permanent successor to Gareth Southgate on Wednesday. Tuchel will officially become England manager in January, taking over from interim boss Lee Carsley.
And while the German’s nationality has prompted polarising views from pundits, TNT Sports’ Crouch was delighted by the 51-year-old’s big-game credentials.
While previous managers have often struggled to manage a squad packed with superstars, Crouch predicted Tuchel would not hesitate to sacrifice headline names for the benefit of the team.
“I was pleased when I found out the news,” said Crouch. “I couldn’t believe the little bit of negative reaction to it, being a foreign manager, certainly German as well. Could we have found an English manager?
“But I don’t have my foot in that camp at all. I think he’s a fantastic manager, great credentials, managed big players at big clubs and won’t be afraid to make decisions, which I think you need.
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“I think at times we probably need to drop a big player. I think we had it in our time. I think that he will not be afraid to ruffle feathers, maybe upset a few people and if it works, it will be fantastic.
“But if it doesn’t, we all know what happens to England managers very quickly.
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“We can’t be selective at this time. Various things haven’t worked. We’ve been so close but with the pool of talent we have, I’m positive that someone with a different outlook may be a success.”
With an array of attacking talent, especially in midfield areas, stand-in head coach Lee Carsley demonstrated the dangers of front-loading the team in last week's 2-1 home defeat to Greece.
While Tuchel’s predecessor Southgate reached more major tournament finals than any other England manager, TNT Sports pundit Joe Cole thinks the German could get England over the last hurdle.
Cole said: “I was surprised at the timing because Lee Carsley’s in the role now, so initially I went, wow, that’s come from left field.
“But I’m really pleased. I think you’ve got to look at it in the context where we’re at the stage now where the new team is as close as it’s been to winning a trophy since 1966.
“Probably the difference may have been you need someone who knows how to win big trophies.
“I’m excited about it. I saw his press conference and he excites me. He’s not going to baulk at the highest level. He’s proven himself time and time again. He’s young, he’s hungry, he understands the players.”
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Tuchel 'very excited and honoured' to be England head coach
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And although Cole was delighted by the appointment, the former Chelsea and West Ham midfielder said the dearth of English candidates for the role showed a glaring deficiency in the FA’s managerial pathways.
“Obviously what people will talk about is the fact he’s not an Englishman. That’s another story altogether that needs addressing,” he added.
“Praise the FA for everything they’ve done there, but I think they’ve really fallen short at helping young English coaches become top managers.
“It’s terrible that we haven’t got a candidate that can stand next to Tuchel, Mourinho, Guardiola, Klopp. But that’s the facts.
“I think people will talk about the German thing, but you have to put that to bed now and everyone has to get behind him.”
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