Matt Law, a renowned journalist at The Daily Telegraph, has written that Thomas Tuchel understands how to handle Manchester City players in the England squad. During his time as Chelsea manager, the club faced sanctions due to Roman Abramovich, which forced him to work under severe operational restrictions.

England manager Thomas Tuchel knows better than most how players react when their lives are turned upside down. This is why he fully understands that the current controversy surrounding Manchester City could have serious implications for his work with the England squad.

The Manchester City case is not identical to Chelsea's situation, when the club was forced to operate under severe restrictions following sanctions against its former owner Abramovich. However, the uncertainty and anxiety facing Manchester City players and staff mirror what Chelsea experienced at that time.

In March 2022, following the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, the British government imposed sanctions on Abramovich, and Chelsea suddenly faced an uncertain future. Overnight, nobody knew what lay ahead for the club on and off the pitch.

Manchester City players and staff now face even greater uncertainty: if they lose their appeal on all but one of the Premier League charges, the club faces severe punishment.

The Premier League announced shocking allegations of financial breaches against Manchester City on the eve of England's match against the Czech Republic. After the match, Thomas Tuchel admitted he was deeply concerned that he had not yet spoken with the three Manchester City players in his squad—Mark Guehi, Kalvin Phillips, and Phil Foden.

Within 24 hours of Manchester City being found "guilty" on the charges, Mark Guehi and Kalvin Phillips made errors that led to goals conceded in the match against Spain. Mark Guehi regained form in Prague, while Kalvin Phillips left training due to injury, and Phil Foden was below par in the Czech Republic match.

There is currently no evidence that the performances of Mark Guehi and Kalvin Phillips against Spain or Phil Foden against the Czech Republic were affected by Manchester City's situation. However, Thomas Tuchel fully understands that this possibility cannot be easily dismissed.

Kalvin Phillips returned to Manchester City due to injury, missing the match against the Czech Republic. By the time Thomas Tuchel's team faces Croatia in Rijeka on Saturday, Mark Guehi and Phil Foden will have had three more days to contemplate their club's predicament and reflect on CEO Ferran Soriano's statements.

Manchester City's crisis risks escalating, which could also impact England's preparations under Thomas Tuchel. With less than two years until Euro 2024, Phil Foden, Mark Guehi, and Kalvin Phillips are key players in the squad.

Thomas Tuchel needs these three players performing at their best. But nobody can be certain what league Manchester City will play in when Euro 2024 begins. The full impact of this case on these players and their performances on the pitch remains to be seen.

When Chelsea first faced operational restrictions, Thomas Tuchel tried to project strength, even joking that if necessary, he could drive players to Lille in a seven-seater minibus for a Champions League match.

But after two months of constant worry and speculation, Thomas Tuchel admitted following Chelsea's draw with Wolverhampton how difficult it had become to carry on as normal.

Interestingly, Thomas Tuchel believed the international break gave Chelsea players time to process the severity of the situation, step away from the club, and discuss it privately with their international teammates.

"Undoubtedly, it is a distraction. The question is: what level of performance can we maintain even when we are worried and anxious inside?" said Thomas Tuchel.

"Before the international break, we were performing very well, and our results barely suffered negatively—quite the opposite. When the sanctions were first announced, we were very determined.

Then came a completely normal human reaction. During this international break, when players are away from the club, they are influenced by various external factors and have more time to reflect on the entire situation. And now this predicament has dragged on too long."

Like the uncertain future facing Manchester City players now, Chelsea could not offer new contracts to Antonio Rüdiger and Andreas Christensen at the time, and both defenders eventually left as free agents.

Thomas Tuchel said: "Players want to feel secure about their competitiveness; they want to know what the situation will be like next season. Players like Toni (Rüdiger) eventually decided to leave. As the days went on, the situation became increasingly complex. It is not a completely hopeless situation, but it is becoming harder and harder. This really does have an impact, and we continue trying to remain competitive and win. It is not an excuse, but it is an objective reality."

After the match against Spain, England captain Harry Kane acknowledged that the Manchester City case had been a topic of discussion in the squad. Undoubtedly, some of the sarcastic remarks being shared by Manchester City's rival fans on social media have also reached the ears of some of Tuchel's players.

The scale of this storm is enormous, and Thomas Tuchel cannot shield himself and his players from it. Fortunately, thanks to his experience at Chelsea, he can speak with players individually with understanding and empathy.

Thomas Tuchel also understands that the hardest days for Mark Guehi, Kalvin Phillips, and Phil Foden may still lie ahead. In addition to the Premier League verdict, when the domestic season resumes, Manchester City players and staff will also face intense public scrutiny.

Next Sunday, in a week's time, Enzo Maresca's team will visit Anfield. In the eyes of Liverpool supporters, even if these Manchester City players (including the three England internationals) had nothing to do with the charges, they will receive no mercy. Across England, Mark Guehi and others will be associated with Manchester City's ownership and management and face criticism. They must possess strong mental resilience.

Thomas Tuchel's only hope is that these Manchester City players in the England squad will receive a clear verdict well before Euro 2024 begins.

Переведено ИИ.

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