Thomas Tuchel has admitted that England's World Cup hopes are at risk from player burnout, revealing that Declan Rice has been operating at only “70 percent capacity” due to a lingering injury. The England manager acknowledged the growing concern over fatigue, especially with a number of Arsenal players withdrawing from international duty.
Tuchel stressed that he trusts both Rice and Bukayo Saka, who reported for England duty despite ongoing issues. “I have 100 percent trust in the honesty of Bukayo and Declan,” he said. “But given the amount of Arsenal players, I understand the look.” He noted that Rice has been struggling for weeks and is now at a point where he questions whether pushing through makes sense.
The England boss confirmed that Jude Bellingham will also miss the friendly against Japan as he recovers from a hamstring injury. Tuchel defended his decision to split the squad for the two friendlies, saying it has been fully justified by the circumstances.
To combat burnout, Tuchel plans a relaxed pre-camp in Florida before the tournament, with one training session per day and time for family and friends. “It’s so important that they enjoy their football,” he said. “The end of the season for most does not come at the end of May – it comes hopefully in the middle of July – and it is a long one.”
