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England manager Thomas Tuchel has admitted that some of Jude Bellingham’s on-pitch outbursts may be “repulsive” to some — including his own mother — but insists he has no intention of curbing the Real Madrid midfielder’s fiery temperament.
Tuchel’s comments came a day after England’s 3-1 friendly defeat to Senegal at Nottingham Forest’s City Ground, marking his first loss in charge and a historic win for the African side. Bellingham thought he had drawn England level late on, but his goal was controversially ruled out before Senegal struck a third in stoppage time. The 21-year-old reacted angrily, and Tuchel was seen calming him down after the final whistle.
Speaking on talkSPORT radio on Wednesday, Tuchel addressed Bellingham’s passionate displays. “Sometimes you see the rage, the hunger and the fire and it comes out in a way that can be a bit repulsive — for example, for my mother when she sits in front of the TV,” he said. “I see that. But in general, we are very happy to have him. He’s a special boy.”
The England boss dismissed any notion that the Three Lions would be better off without Bellingham, who was a standout performer during their Euro 2024 campaign. However, Tuchel acknowledged that the midfielder must ensure his intensity motivates rather than unsettles his team-mates.
“He has a certain something and brings an edge. It’s needed if we want to achieve big things,” Tuchel said. “It needs to be channelled towards the opponent and our goals, not towards intimidating team-mates or being aggressive with referees. He has the fire — I don’t want to dim that; it’s his strength. But it must be controlled.”
Tuchel added: “That edge is rare — it’s hard to find. But it can sometimes turn into explosions of anger. If he learns to focus that emotion in the right way, it could be a huge asset for us.”
Tuchel, who previously won the Champions League with Chelsea and domestic titles with Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich, was appointed England manager to end the country’s long wait for a major international trophy — a drought that dates back to 1966.
His reign began with three World Cup qualifying wins over Albania, Latvia and Andorra, though performances were far from convincing. The defeat to Senegal has intensified questions over his tactical approach and squad balance.
Reflecting on the recent camp, Tuchel said: “I already have an idea of what to do. We experimented a bit — not everything was bad, we did some good things — but the two games weren’t good enough overall. Still, they offered us useful lessons and brought clarity. Each match helps us shape the team and find the right solutions.”
Tuchel has just over a year to prepare his side for the 2026 World Cup, and while challenges remain, he believes England have the talent to compete at the highest level.
