BREAKING NEWS : Thomas Tuchel picks Chelsea star over Harry Maguire, says he’s “miles ahead” after England snub.
Thomas Tuchel has announced his England squad for the upcoming matches in June, where they will play against Andorra and Senegal. One of the most talked-about changes is the absence of Manchester United defender Harry Maguire, who had been a regular starter under former manager Gareth Southgate.
Maguire missed Euro 2024 last summer due to injury and was also left out of Tuchel’s first England squad earlier this year. Back in March, Tuchel explained that Maguire’s absence was mostly due to his current form. This season, Manchester United has struggled in the Premier League, losing 18 of their 37 games so far. That poor performance has made it difficult for some players, including Maguire, to shine.
Despite a tough league season, the 32-year-old did have some standout moments. He played an important role in United’s journey to the Europa League final. He even made an impact in attack, but the campaign ended in disappointment after United lost to Tottenham in the final held in Bilbao.
One of the reasons for Tuchel’s defensive reshuffle is the injury to Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi, who suffered an eye injury during their FA Cup win. In Guehi’s absence, Tuchel has called up Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah. Chalobah will join other defenders in the squad, including Ezri Konsa, Dan Burn, and fellow Chelsea teammate Levi Colwill.
Since Wesley Fofana has been out for the season, Chalobah stepped up for Chelsea. After returning from a loan spell at Crystal Palace in January, he has been a solid and consistent player. He’s played 90 minutes in nine of Chelsea’s 16 Premier League games since his return, forming a strong partnership with Colwill at the center of the defense.
Although Tuchel left Maguire out of the squad, he emphasized that the veteran defender is still in his future plans. Tuchel made a light-hearted comment, saying Maguire is always in his thoughts, not just as a center-back, but even jokingly as a striker.
In the end, Tuchel said that Chalobah earned his place because of his excellent form and the important role he’s played for Chelsea recently. His performances gave him the edge over Maguire for now.
