In December last year, when the key players of the England national team in the Premier League entered a dense period with a 3-day match density, Thomas Tuchel realized that he "had to do something different" for the friendly matches with Uruguay and Japan this week.
He clearly understands that it would be a mistake to consider this as a normal international gathering, although it is the last time before the 2026 World Cup. The reason is that the match volume is already too large.
Former club-level coach, Tuchel admitted: "Clubs do not have the conditions for players to rest".
He surprised everyone by announcing the list of 35 players for the extended play-off, and confirmed that some key players will not participate in the first friendly match with Japan.
They are about to enter the decisive matches, a key moment of the season. Very tense" - the captain of the England team said.
The international gathering makes Premier League coaches even more worried. Some have expressed dissatisfaction, even complaining about the players being asked to train continuously for many days.
Although there is a view that players should actively exchange with the national team coaching staff, in fact, most do not want to be seen as a "problem" during the year with the World Cup. They all want to participate in this prestigious tournament.
In theory, that forces the national team coaches to consider, because this is a rare period when they share physical pressure with clubs. If a star gets injured at this time, not only will the team suffer, but the whole team will also be affected at the World Cup.
In that context, Tuchel is one of the few people who recognized the problem and offered a "stage-based" solution.
Perhaps this stems from his work experience in the Premier League - where there is no room for leniency. After exchanging with the team of assistants and FA Technical Director John McDermott, Tuchel came up with a creative plan. And this is the right management method.
He called up 35 players, but key players such as Harry Kane, Declan Rice or Bukayo Saka are only expected to play in the second match, while the less experienced group will play in the first match.
A seemingly bulky squad but used reasonably. Tuchel almost found the optimal solution in an imperfect situation. As he said - "Everything seems confusing, but this is the least confusing way".
In the first match, reserve players have the opportunity to show themselves. In the next match, the stars will play together before the World Cup, while still ensuring fitness.
More importantly, they have the necessary break - almost a miniature winter break. Some Premier League coaches even admit they are very happy about this.
For example, the pillars of Man City and Arsenal will have a full 6-day break after the Carabao Cup final. This is a reasonable decision when Tuchel has both the opportunity to experiment, build cohesion and maintain competitiveness in the team.
He also wants to keep a group of about 19 players for each period, to avoid many people having to sit on the bench without being used. This helps players have time to rest both physically and mentally.
We have the opportunity for the players to rest. Names like Bukayo Saka, Morgan Rogers or Elliott Anderson have played more than last season combined. And with their schedule, it is clear that the club will not be able to let them rest.
If I were a club coach, I wouldn't do that either. Therefore, if we want them to reach their best condition in June, this is necessary," Tuchel said.
Tuchel also believes that this approach helps him have higher requirements in training sessions, instead of having to reduce the burden due to tired players. He also considers fairness for players who are not core.
We don't want to create confusion about motivation. Some want to prove themselves, some need to rest. That could make the training camp chaotic. With a smaller group, everything is clearer, calmer and fairer," the England captain added.
Tuchel admitted that this approach may create a feeling of the existence of teams A and B, but he does not want to call it that: "I only rate some players who are in a higher position than others. That is the reality. But if you summon everyone and let each person have a different motive, that is a big risk".
