Thomas Tuchel has really sung the praises of Jude Bellingham after experiencing his first loss as England's manager. "He's a special boy," Tuchel remarked following the 3-1 friendly defeat at home against Senegal at the City Ground. He emphasized that Bellingham needs to harness his "fire" to really shine, especially since the young star is gearing up for the FIFA Club World Cup in the U.S.
Now, throughout the year, Bellingham had been a starter in matches against Albania, Latvia, and Andorra. But in this game, he found himself on the bench while Declan Rice, Conor Gallagher, and Anthony Gordon held down the midfield. Finally, he came on as a substitute in the second half and thought he had scored an equalizer. Sadly, his 84th-minute goal was chalked off by VAR due to a handball.
"He has that fire. I don’t want to tone it down. He should play with that fire – that’s where his strength lies," Tuchel said. "But you know, that fire can also come with some traits that might intimidate, even his teammates at times. You can see the way he reacts to referees, the passion and anger in his play. If he can channel that energy properly—and with our help—I really believe he has exactly what we need.
"He has this unique edge that’s hard to come by. It can stir up mixed feelings. I see it with my own parents; my mom sometimes doesn’t see the polite, well-mannered guy I know. When he smiles, he wins everyone over, but then you also see that intensity, the hunger, and the fire that can come off a bit strong. Like, when my mom's watching TV, I notice it. But overall, we’re really glad to have him on the team; he’s truly something special."
Now, how do we get the best version of him out there, and ensure that people appreciate what he brings to the table? Sometimes, that fire and rage can be a lot. I mean, my mom definitely feels it when she’s watching the game! But again, we’re just happy to have him.
After the game against Senegal, Bellingham had to be calmed down by Harry Kane after that late equalizer got disallowed. He was seen kicking a drinks cooler and yelling at the linesman, which, you know, shows just how passionate he is.
Tuchel added, “I really struggle to see it that way. I think it’s about figuring out how to get the best out of him and helping others see what he’s contributing. I know it can stir up mixed emotions. I see that with my mom; she sometimes doesn’t recognize the great guy I see. But when he smiles, he really does win everyone over.”