"It's disappointing but I'm not upset with the players. I'm not angry. I got the feeling that everyone was desperate to come. Some of the injured players even stayed to do their treatment. That shows they want to be around the group."
"We have players in camp that have already played more minutes than last season, so there is some concern. The players needed and deserved the mental break from football."
"It's the reality of end of the season and the end of March; the reality of having players in European matches and more than just one competition with all the cups going on."
England manager Thomas Tuchel is not angry with the eight players who withdrew from the squad ahead of the friendly against Japan. Players like Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Bukayo Saka dropped out due to the end-of-season fatigue. Tuchel acknowledges the reality of player health and the demands of multiple competitions. He selected a 35-man squad, splitting players into two camps. Tuchel emphasizes the importance of mental breaks and the desire for players to reconnect with team principles before the World Cup.
Read at www.bbc.com
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