Thomas Tuchel has hit back at suggestions that Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka’s withdrawals from the England squad were anything other than genuine, insisting he has no reason to doubt either player’s honesty despite the optics of so many Arsenal players returning to their club during the international break.
The England boss acknowledged the scrutiny surrounding the situation but was firm in his defence of both players, revealing that Rice had actually been out on the training pitch before the decision to send him home was made.
Speaking to the media, as relayed by the Mirror, Tuchel said: “I understand the looks of it. I still have 100 per cent trust in the honesty of Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice. We did medical tests. I saw them. I have no reason to believe that Declan is not honest with me. I have no reason to believe Bukayo is not honest. But given the number of Arsenal players, I understand the look.
“But they both came. Declan was even out on the pitch. He did not come and say, ‘Guys, I’m going home.’ I heard there were camps where players did not even show up with boots and stuff.
“Declan is a key player, Bukayo is a key player, why would I take this risk? Of course I want them in my team, of course I want them to play tomorrow. But this is just not the moment to push. And on top of it, I have 100 percent trust in both of them.
“I don’t think Arsenal would be happy if I said what the injury was. But he feels a discomfort since quite a while, and he’s playing through it, and he’s just now on the edge, where he thinks, ‘Does this make sense, what I’m doing here, to push through with 70 percent and push myself and push myself?’ And the same with Bukayo.”
