England boss Thomas Tuchel accused of ‘messing’ player around after Latvia win
Nasir Jabbar
3 – 4 minutes
Thomas Tuchel has been accused by fans of ‘messing’ a player around after completing his first England camp.
Tuchel rounded off his first England camp with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Latvia, which came just days after their 2-0 win against Albania.
Reece James, who scored a stunning free-kick, Harry Kane and Eberechi Eze all got on the score-sheet as the Three Lions open their World Cup qualifying campaign with back-to-back wins at Wembley Stadium, but fans think it’s time for an ‘uncomfortable conversation’ about one player.
The German boss made four changes from last Friday’s game against Albania, with James, Marc Guehi, Jarrod Bowen and Morgan Rogers replacing Kyle Walker, Dan Burn, Curtis Jones and Phil Foden.
Jordan Henderson, who received a shock call-up to the England squad, featured in both games while Eze got minutes against Latvia.
But the lack of Morgan Gibbs-White against Latvia frustrated supporters on social media.
Gibbs-White was initially left out of Tuchel’s first England party.
However, the Nottingham Forest star was added to Tuchel’s squad following the withdrawal of Chelsea’s Cole Palmer.
Gibbs-White, though, was cut from the squad for England’s game against Albania but was restored to the fold against Latvia.
The 25-year-old, who has helped Forest to third place in the Premier League this season, failed to add to his two England caps as he was denied his third senior international outing.
Tuchel’s decision not to play Gibbs-White angered some England fans on social media.
One X user wrote: “Has any player been messed around more by Tuchel this week than Morgan Gibbs-White? From a #NFFC perspective it’ll be great for him to come back injury free, but it’s a farce that one of the in form players in the Premier League hasn’t got a minute on the pitch in either game.”
A second slammed: “Is Morgan Gibbs-White there just to do card tricks? Absolutely pointless call up, he must be fuming. It’s actually very disrespectful from Tuchel, taking the p**s. #England.”
Morgan Gibbs-White during England training. Image: Getty
Morgan Gibbs-White during England training. Image: Getty
Gibbs-White admitted he was ‘upset’ and a ‘little bit disappointed’ after being excluded from Tuchel’s original squad.
“I was upset, a little bit disappointed, but at the same time you always have to look at the quality of players England have,” he told BBC Radio 5 Live.
“I took that into consideration, but when he told me, I respected his decision.
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“I said to him, ‘I think I have done enough to get the call-up considering the club form that we are in, but you are the manager, you make the decisions, and I will respect that’.”
