Bukayo Saka continues to play through the pain of an achilles injury, according to England manager Thomas Tuchel. On June 9, Tuchel revealed that Saka must be managed carefully as the start of the World Cup looms large.
What happened?
Bukayo Saka joined up with the England squad in West Palm Beach on Saturday after being given an extra week off following his involvement in the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain.
Why it matters for Bukayo Saka
Tuchel said that while Declan Rice, Eberechi Eze, and Noni Madueke are at 100% fitness, Saka is still struggling with his injury, which has been bothering him for quite a while.
What comes next?
England play Costa Rica in their second and final warm-up game in Orlando on Wednesday, and Tuchel has a few major decisions to make for his starting XI, including whether to start Morgan Rogers or Jude Bellingham in the No 10 role.
Tuchel gave Saka an extra week off to recover from his injury, but the Arsenal winger is still not at 100% fitness. Tuchel said that Saka is playing through discomfort at the end of the season and is being managed carefully in training.
The England manager also revealed that Saka is not able to do every training session through the week and then play, and will be managed carefully to ensure he's fit for the World Cup. Tuchel said that Arsenal brought Saka back at the end of April and he was straight away decisive, but the club decided to let him play through his pain and discomfort.
Tuchel has a few options for the right wing position, including Morgan Rogers and Marcus Rashford, but Noni Madueke is his only other pure option in the position. The England manager said that clarity is the most important thing and players know where they can compete.
England kick off their World Cup against Croatia in Dallas next Wednesday, and Tuchel has a few major decisions to make for his starting XI. The England manager said that he will not play the game of obsessing about individual players and that the team will win the World Cup together.
Tuchel also said that the public should stop obsessing about whether Jude Bellingham starts, and that the team has a lot of proof that they can win football matches without him. The England manager said that Bellingham is in amazing form, but the team will not win the World Cup alone.
The World Cup is a long tournament, and Tuchel said that the guys he picks tomorrow against Costa Rica, and the guys he picks against Croatia, are not necessarily the guys that he will pick in all the games. The England manager said that the players need to understand that not all of them will start all of the time at the same time, and that they can play decisive roles.
Bukayo Saka's injury is a concern for England, but Tuchel is confident that he can manage it carefully and ensure that the Arsenal winger is fit for the World Cup. The England manager said that Saka is a big player, and that he will be managed carefully to ensure that he's fit for the tournament.
On June 9, Tuchel revealed that Saka's injury has been bothering him for quite a while, and that the Arsenal winger is still not at 100% fitness. The England manager said that Saka is playing through discomfort at the end of the season, and is being managed carefully in training.
The World Cup is just around the corner, and Tuchel has a few major decisions to make for his starting XI. The England manager said that he will not play the game of obsessing about individual players, and that the team will win the World Cup together. Bukayo Saka's fitness is a concern, but Tuchel is confident that he can manage it carefully and ensure that the Arsenal winger is fit for the tournament.