Thomas Tuchel says it is “hard to argue” with questions over Cole Palmer’s commitment to the England set-up as the Chelsea star “misses too many opportunities” and “way too many camps”.
The 24-year-old has only won three caps since the German took charge at the start of last year and, despite featuring in both March friendlies, was overlooked for a World Cup place.
Palmer was recalled for England’s autumn Nations League fixtures, only to pull out of the squad at the start of a week that ends with questions over the Chelsea playmaker’s international ambitions.
Load management has been mentioned as an explanation, but Tuchel says “discomfort and pain” is to blame for an absence that has frustrated the national team boss.
“For sure it’s a missed opportunity,” Tuchel said. “It’s another missed opportunity.
“He misses too many opportunities, and I don’t blame him for it. It’s just the fact.
“He misses way too many camps with injuries and I only want to rely on what I personally witness and what I see within my team, and for that you have to be in camp.
“If you’re not in camp, there’s a next level to impress that you cannot achieve because you only can do it when you’re actually with me on the pitch and with us on the pitch so, yeah, it is a missed opportunity.”
Declan Rice, Marcus Rashford, Kobbie Mainoo and Tino Livramento also withdrew from the squad on Monday, but the frustration over Palmer was palpable.
Put to Tuchel that it does not sound like the Chelsea player is desperate to come, he puffed his cheeks and said: “Hard to argue against (what you are saying).
“It leaves us with Jude Bellingham, Morgan Rogers, Morgan Gibbs-White and Eberechi Eze. All in camp. All desperate to be here.
“All available and all ready to go, ready to stop a holiday after one day in Dubai (in Gibbs-White’s case) and fly back.”
Tuchel was at pains to stress “every case is individual” when it comes to withdrawals, with Rice calling him to explain an issue he could already see before saying Mainoo and Rashford were playing with discomfort.
Asked if it sticks with him when players pull out, Tuchel said: “It’s the opposite. What sticks with me is the week that I have with the others.
“(The absentees) lose that. That sticks because we create something.
“We’re just not here for a week and say ‘oh, let’s play a six against six and now a nine against nine, let’s do a little bit of foot volley and then we play’.
“We actually work off the field, on the field, on our principles and how to be a top team-mate. You miss out if you’re not there.”
England play their first match since the World Cup at home to Spain on Saturday, kicking off a four-match Nations League meet-up.
Harry Kane will equal Peter Shilton’s 125-cap appearance record if he features in all of them and Tuchel said: “Harry is desperate to start all four and there is a chance he will.
“This would actually be my mindset, to not make so many changes, to keep it going and to give the players we can rely on the trust and responsibility to take the next step and carry this team.”
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