Thomas Tuchel's easy charm and ability to read the room were evident as he addressed the packed press conference at Wembley. The incoming England manager had noticed a famous Pelé quote in one of the hospitality boxes and decided to reference it in his opening remarks. "I just had the chance to read a quote from Pelé in the building at Wembley who said that Wembley is the heart, the capital and the cathedral of football," Tuchel began. "I think he was absolutely right."
The room was filled with anticipation, and the TV cameras focused on the audience, capturing the scale of the occasion. Moments before 1.30pm, John McDermott, the Football Association's technical director, accompanied by Anthony Barry and Olaf Meinking, took their seats. Then, Tuchel, with his distinctive blond highlights, strode to the stage alongside FA chief executive Mark Bullingham.
Tuchel's presentation was note-perfect, combining self-belief, humor, and a twinkle in his eye that London's media corps had come to know during his 18-month stint at Chelsea. However, the spikiness came from questions about his contract length and why he was not starting immediately. Tuchel explained that he wanted a "clean start" for the World Cup qualifying campaign, although he acknowledged the potential for a Nations League playoff.
There was a humorous moment when Tuchel was reminded of his previous comment about international football adding unnecessary games. "Good one," he replied. "Now it's not enough, we need more matches!" Tuchel enjoys these exchanges and sees the English media landscape as a perfect fit for his personality.
Tuchel addressed the nationality question with deftness, acknowledging the back-page editorial that decried the appointment of a German. "Everyone has their opinion," he said. "And I can understand even the opinion: 'I would fancy an English coach more for the English team.' But I think we [him and his staff] deserve a fair chance, the credit for having a good record in this country [at Chelsea] and for never being shy of how much we love to live here and work with the players in the Premier League."
Tuchel avoided discussing individual players, focusing instead on his enthusiasm and plans to deliver glory at the World Cup. "This role has brought the young me alive," he said. "It has brought back my teenage days, to get excited for such a big country, the Three Lions, playing at Wembley, leading this group of players. Everyone can be assured that we will do it with passion and emotion. We will try to install values and rules as quickly as possible to make the dream come through."
