Anthony Gordon excited about Thomas Tuchel’s England, reveals he was ‘desperate’ to join Chelsea in 2022
Updated 14/11/2024 at 12:11 GMT
Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon says he was “quite close” to joining Chelsea from Everton in 2022, when the recently appointed England boss Thomas Tuchel was in charge. He is looking forward to working with the German when he takes up his position as head coach in the new year. England must beat Greece tonight to have a chance of winning automatic promotion back to the top tier of the Nations League.
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Video credit: SNTV
Anthony Gordon has revealed he was “desperate” to link up with Thomas Tuchel at Chelsea in 2022 and cannot wait to work with the newly appointed England head coach.
The winger says a move from Everton to Stamford Bridge was “quite close” but “didn’t end up happening” with the now-23-year-old switching to Newcastle United instead in January 2023.
Everton reportedly rejected a bid from Chelsea of around £40m for Gordon in August 2022, though Tuchel was sacked just a month later anyway.
Gordon is with the England squad in Athens, preparing for tonight’s UEFA Nations League match with Greece - a game they must win under interim boss Lee Carsley to have a chance of winning automatic promotion back to the top tier, following a 2-1 defeat to the same side last month.
Tuchel will take up his new job with the Football Association on New Year’s Day, with Carsley remaining in charge for tonight’s fixture and Sunday’s game with the Republic of Ireland at Wembley.
"It was quite close to be honest," Gordon said, when asked about his failed move to Chelsea.
"I was desperate to go at the time and work with him especially. I felt like my style would suit his style of play, the way he was playing at Chelsea which was very exciting for me. It didn't end up happening.
"It was a big opportunity for me that didn't end up happening and I'm looking forward to getting to work with him a couple of years later."
Gordon has also had his say on the mass withdrawal of players from the squad initially selected by Carsley, following speculation that would not have happened if Tuchel had already started in the job.
Captain Harry Kane told ITV Sport that “England comes before anything, any club situation” as he appeared to criticise some of the choices made by a few of his team-mates, while Gordon stayed with the group despite coming off with a hip issue during Newcastle’s win at Nottingham Forest on Sunday.
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“It wasn’t a possibility [not turning up]. I came to get assessed and see how the injury is and the staff here thought they could help me with it, which they have," Gordan added.
“They’ve done an excellent job because I’ve been training straight away. It’s gone to a certain extent. It’s an injury I had a couple of weeks ago and it stayed with me a little bit.
"We have got to be present with what's in front of us. We're facing a Greece team who have just beaten us, and we've still got Lee in charge and we have to impress him.
"All focus is on that right now and putting that game right from last time we played them."
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