Tuchel's press conference remarks have sparked heated debate among fans. He claimed that reflecting on the World Cup experience, 99.9% of English fans would not discuss substitutions or tactical decisions, but would focus solely on the team's performance. Matt Law, the renowned Daily Telegraph journalist, wrote that Tuchel's press conference remarks were heavily scripted and repetitive, with ideas disconnected from reality, suggesting he will not listen to fan opinion.

Matt Law's original commentary

Over the past two months, the rest of us have probably encountered those other 0.1% of English fans.

According to Thomas Tuchel's view, 99.9% of English fans only want to discuss the team's highlights: the match against Mexico, the second half against Croatia, and even the comeback against the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The final thirty minutes against Argentina—the moment when England threw away its place in the World Cup final with its own hands?

Tuchel claims only those 0.1% of fans would dwell on that.

About a week after the Argentina match, I ran into my son's former primary school teacher on the lawn at Latitude Festival in Suffolk, and she undoubtedly belonged to that minority.

Beyond wishing my son well for his move to secondary school, she talked about only one thing: why Tuchel was still in his job after the collapse against Argentina. I instinctively defended him, suggesting perhaps he hadn't yet adjusted to the time difference.

The same went for my friends who were with me. While enjoying the music and drinking festival cider, no one was dwelling on that night at Estadio Azteca.

Everyone wanted an explanation for Tuchel's tactics.

No one mentioned the matches against Croatia or Congo.

If Tuchel's words are true, then I only encountered the "wrong people."

"Let me tell you, about 99.9% of fans won't talk about substitutions, tactical changes, or anything like that," Tuchel said. "They'll talk about where they watched the Mexico match, the second half of that game, the atmosphere at the Croatia match; they'll talk about the anxiety they felt watching the Congo match, and where they celebrated.

"That's what the World Cup should be: connecting people and giving them unforgettable experiences. And that's the feedback I've received from fans."

If he believes fans wouldn't discuss his substitution decisions against Argentina, why did Tuchel appear to have a prepared quip minimizing the issue?

When Tuchel announced his first squad selection after the World Cup, FA technical director John McDermott was sitting in the back of the press conference room. He laughed along as Tuchel answered questions about the World Cup campaign.

"Of course, I received plenty of criticism for my substitutions, the ones I made at the time," Tuchel quipped. He entered the media press conference room at Wembley with several notes in hand.

The quip drew a few laughs from the audience, but his entire delivery seemed heavily scripted. More strikingly, Tuchel kept glancing at his notes as he spoke.

He clearly steered the conversation deliberately toward the positive, and again referenced the so-called "fanbase," citing the bronze medal match against France to support his point.

"Reflecting on the 6-4 victory over France, when fans talk about that match, they say it was one of their best viewing experiences," Tuchel said. "So perhaps I need to let go of my desire to control everything, embrace more uncertainty, embrace the chaos, and maybe that will bring out the best in the team."

The entire address read like a script, and the ideas were disconnected from reality. But perhaps that's because Tuchel has long dealt with senior FA officials—he may have formed this unrealistic perception through those interactions. It was revealed that before the Mexico match, senior FA officials had already assured him his job was secure.

"There was a very special moment before the Mexico match. We had a conversation, and my superior told me: 'We know anything can happen in football, especially at the World Cup in Mexico. But you don't need to worry—we understand the current situation and want to continue working together,'" he said.

"As a coach, that moment meant a lot to me. I was given the freedom to make decisions and coach freely. I never doubted we'd continue working together, and it was clear they had no doubts either.

"Of course, we'll conduct critical reviews, but privately. I'm my own harshest critic, and to progress, reflection is essential, and gaining experience is a crucial part of coaching. That's where we are now."

It seems Tuchel hasn't truly listened to the considerable external criticism. He appears to place more value on opinions from those purported 99.9% of fans, whose voices are rarely heard outside his narrative.

Traduit par IA.

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