Thomas Tuchel defended Arsenal stars Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice after both players pulled out of international duty ahead of England’s friendly against Japan
Everything you need to know about what Thomas Tuchel really said on Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka and Arsenal…
- Tuchel explicitly dismissed narratives that Arsenal players were exaggerating injuries to avoid friendlies. He clarified that the decision to release Rice and Saka was made by the England medical team after assessments showed they were unfit to participate.
- The manager emphasised that both Rice and Saka “wanted desperately to play” and were eager to be involved in the camp. He aimed to “get the narrative straight” by confirming their commitment to the national team despite the physical setbacks.
- Tuchel explained that while the players might have been pushed to play if it were the end of the season, it made “no sense” to risk long-term damage in March. He prioritised their durability over involvement in the upcoming friendlies.
- During medical assessments at St. George’s Park, Tuchel noted that both players were in “clear discomfort.” He stated that their injuries, while not “dramatic,” required several days of rest, leading to their immediate release back to London Colney.
- Tuchel expressed disappointment at their absence but not with the players themselves. He acknowledged the “reality” of the modern schedule, noting that several squad members are hitting “red flags” due to the mental and physical demands of multiple competitions.
- Despite missing his last chance to experiment before the summer, Tuchel backed the players’ need for a mental and physical break. He reiterated that he was “not upset or angry,” recognising the importance of having them healthy for the World Cup.
Quotes in full: “It is a threat. Not the biggest one but it is a threat. It’s just a fact, fatigue. I understand the looks of it. I still have 100 per cent trust in the honesty of Bukayo and Declan. We did medical tests. I saw them.
“I have no reason to believe that Declan is not honest with me. I have no reason to believe Bukayo is not honest. But given the amount of Arsenal players, I understand the look.
“But they both came. Declan was even out on the pitch. He did not come and say ‘Guys, I’m going home.’ I heard there were camps where players did not even show up with boots and stuff.
“Declan is a key player, Bukayo is a key player, why would I take this risk? Of course I want them in my team, of course I want them to play tomorrow. But this is just not to the moment to push. And on top of it, I have 100 percent trust in both of them.
“I don’t think Arsenal would be happy if I said what the injury was. But he feels a discomfort since quite a while, and he’s playing through it, and he’s just now on the edge, where he thinks, ‘Does this make sense, what I’m doing here, to push through with 70 percent and push myself and push myself?’ And the same with Bukayo.”
