Thomas Tuchel sets the record straight on Jude Bellingham ahead of England and Argentina clash

Thomas Tuchel has set the record straight on his relationship with Jude Bellingham, insisting there are "no cracks" between player and manager.

The pair have been heavily discussed by pundits and fans following their disagreement at the end of England's victory over Norway.

The England boss said he was "not happy with the performance", but the Real Madrid midfielder disagreed, feeling the team "dug in" and played well.

Following the match, Tuchel said he cleared the air, and there are no issues between him and Bellingham.

TRENDING

Stories

Videos

Your Say

"I wonder who blows these things up? So, there is nothing to blow up, and if it's blown up, it's blown up in the media, of course," he said.

"What do you expect of a player that just played 120 minutes and gave literally everything if you shorten the comment of his coach, if you don't tell him that 'he was world class', if you don't tell him that 'he has world-class actions'.

"If you just cut all this and tell him 'oh, your coach said you were sloppy', what do you expect?"

The German continued: "Yeah, of course you get the comment that you get, and then you try to blow it up, and people try to create misunderstandings and cracks where no cracks are.

LATEST SPORTS NEWS

• Spain reach World Cup final after repeating history against sorry France as Kylian Mbappe nullified
• John McEnroe suffers massive pay cut but Gary Lineker receives huge sum as BBC salary list revealed
• Erling Haaland steps off plane with a raccoon after Norway return home from World Cup

"We come from the same place. We come from being competitive, and I am a competitive coach. I push this team to the limit, and that was my assessment.

"I think the question was unfair in this moment towards Jude because he cut all the compliments out of my assessment and just asked about the critical points, so I can understand.

"What do you expect of a player that just gave everything and stands there in front of a microphone in a flash interview?

"It's just what it is but we're as close as ever, and close more than ever before.

"You can see that on the field. The energy and mentality in camp is excellent in the last days, and we are ready to go for it tomorrow."

Part of Bellingham's criticism appeared to reference Tuchel's playing career, with the 23-year-old saying: "Maybe he doesn't know what it's like to play in those kind of conditions".

The England boss joked that his playing days were "mediocre at best" but that they do not impact his ability to coach.

Tuchel said: "I would still like to have a player's career, that was my dream.

"I never thought about being a coach, never dreamt about being a coach on that kind of level, so I think this is basically the dream.

"I just feel also on the sideline very humbled, and from time to time it just strikes me on the sideline right before the match 'I couldn't play here on this occasion'

"I don't think that you have to play [to be a coach]. A funny quote, you don't have to be a horse to be a good jockey!'"

Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter