England boss Thomas Tuchel has opened up on his shock decision to exclude Jude Bellingham from the latest England squad this morning.
The Three Lions are due to face Wales and Latvia later this month, with only the latter counting towards their World Cup qualification.
Bellingham, who has featured in Real Madrid’s last four fixtures, has been recovering from shoulder surgery that was undertaken over the summer following Madrid’s exit from the Club World Cup.
The relationship between Tuchel and the 22-year-old has been somewhat tumultuous during the German’s 10-month reign.
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The former Borussia Dortmund star failed to score in his first four appearances under the ex-Chelsea boss before his injury. Despite this, the midfielder won England's Player of the Year award earlier this week.
However, Tuchel has previously gone on record describing his attitude on the pitch as “repulsive” - a comment he has since apologised for.
Jude Bellingham has been brutally omitted from the England squad by Thomas Tuchel
| PABellingham’s omission from the squad is the latest chapter in the evolution of the pair’s relationship, with the England boss now opening up on his reasons for leaving him out.
"The question is also, why not pick the same players? Why not if they are not injured?” Tuchel questioned this morning.
England boss Thomas Tuchel opened up on some of his controversial exclusions this morning
|REUTERS
His squad had just three changes from the previous; replacing the injured pair of Tino Livramento and Noni Madueke with Jarell Quansah and Bukayo Saka. Ruben Loftus-Cheek came in for Adam Wharton in a change that also occurred in the last squad after the latter withdrew through injury.
“The last camp was only three-and-a-half weeks ago. Teamwork, team spirit were at the highest level so far. That's why we decided to invite the same group into this camp, to make more stable what we started to build,” Tuchel continued.
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“Are there players out there who deserve to be with us? Yes, for sure. Is there a way back into the team through performance? 100 per cent.
"We think this is the best and most straightforward position. The competition is on to be in the squad and to make it onto the pitch.
“I understand your focus on Jude [Bellingham]; he is a very special player, and for special players, there are special rules.
"But for this camp we decided to stick with our decision to invite the same team, that also applies to Jude. He always deserves to be in camp.
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“There is also the situation that he hasn't gathered his full rhythm for Real Madrid. He hasn't finished one full match until now; he has only started one now. He is getting back to full strength. We had a phone call. There is no issue from that side; he just lacks rhythm.”
The boss then said: “Are we a better team with Jude? Yes. But I told you before, what do we do if Jude is injured before the World Cup? Do we just cancel?”
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England hammered Serbia 5-0 in their most recent fixture | REUTERSWhile Bellingham’s exclusion came as a major shock to many fans, Everton’s Jack Grealish and Manchester City’s Phil Foden also missed out on the squad yet again.
Tuchel was quick to heap praise on the pair, insisting they had impressed domestically so far this season: “There is also no problem with Phil Foden or Jack Grealish either.
"Phil is back influencing and deciding games for Manchester City. Jack is very close to being back to the best version of himself.
Jack Grealish missed out on an international call up despite claiming the Premier League Player of the Month in August
| REUTERS"There is no personal problem."
Myles Lewis-Skelly was included in the squad, despite lacking minutes at club level for Arsenal. He has made four senior appearances to date.
“You have to perform at the club level on a regular basis,” Tuchel explained. “At last camp, [Lewis-Skelly] got the credit that we have to take care of him because we accelerated his career. We stick to this.
“[Lewis-Skelly] was part of a very successful camp, so he gets the reward for that, but he was not part of the 20-man squad in the match in Serbia.
"Still, his behaviour was outstanding. His training, attitude, and support for players on the pitch were at the highest level.”