Thomas Tuchel warned of biggest challenge he faces as England boss after Pep Guardiola’s scathing rant
IF Thomas Tuchel did not already know the political challenges he faces as England boss, he does now.
The German may have experienced a battle of wits on the touchline with Pep Guardiola during his time as Chelsea chief.
But fending him off over the selection of his Manchester City stars will soon be a whole new ball game.
And let’s not forget that Guardiola is just one of many Prem managers not shy of moaning about their over-worked players being called up for international duty.
Guardiola’s rant over Jack Grealish’s inclusion in the latest England squad was not what Tuchel would have wanted to hear as he prepares to take over on January 1.
Tuchel resisted having any say in interim boss Lee Carsley’s final squad — but he will be picking the next England group in March after a relentless four-month domestic run.
The manager of City, who normally have up to five players in the Three Lions squad, is furious with the FA.
Guardiola made it obvious he does not believe his record signing, Grealish, is fit enough to be called up for the Nations League fixtures with Greece and Ireland.
And he took aim at both Carsley — as well as the £100million ace — over the decision to call him up.
This is the same manager who, only last month, revealed he was “never so angry” as he was with the FA in the spring.
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Back then, centre-back John Stones was injured in a friendly against Brazil and had to miss a leg of City’s Champions League quarter-final defeat to Real Madrid.
That day Guardiola hid his anger at Gareth Southgate and the governing body fairly well — as it only emerged several months later.
This time, though, he could not disguise his anger over the call-up for Grealish. The player has endured another frustrating season with the champions and has featured only once since October 5.
Even that was a 17-minute cameo off the bench against Wolves three weeks ago, since when a hamstring issue has kept him out.
According to Guardiola, Grealish only returned to training yesterday, so he should be spending the next couple of weeks getting fit at the Etihad.
Instead, the former Aston Villa skipper — axed from the Euro 2024 squad in the summer — has indicated he wants to go and play.
‘THEY HAVE TO RECOVER’
Asked for his views on the club-v-country issues faced by top players, Guardiola said: “Always has been like that. I’m always pleased for players to go — when they are fit. And if they haven’t struggled for the last one, two, three, four weeks.
“Then I have the opinion they have to recover.”
He could not have made his views any clearer.
So this is the kind of issue that Tuchel will have to get used to as he makes the move into international football in a few weeks’ time.
And, ironically, it might not be too long until Guardiola sees it from the other side of the fence, too.
He was strongly linked to the England vacancy before the former Chelsea boss was confirmed.
And this week there were fresh reports suggesting he is in the frame to land the job with Brazil’s national team.
That comes as he stands on the brink of losing four games in a row for the first time in his glittering career.
His depleted City side face a tricky trip to Brighton on Saturday looking to end a run of three straight defeats — albeit in three different competitions.
And he will have to do it without Grealish, 29, who has started only four Premier League games this season and has already been ruled out of the trip to the Amex.