"For Marc Guehi, the flicker of self-doubt was understandable. The Crystal Palace centrehalf had starred for England at Euro 2024, a first-choice selection under Gareth Southgate, and his status was intact at the end of Lee Carsley's caretaker spell in the first half of last season. Enter Thomas Tuchel and it is worth remembering that this was the manager who had sanctioned Guehi's sale from Chelsea to Palace in the summer of 2021."
"Did Tuchel fancy him? When the new broom swept Dan Burn into the starting XI for his first game in charge, against Albania at Wembley in March, leaving Guehi as an unused substitute, it did not look great. Tuchel started Guehi in the next game, against Latvia, also at Wembley, before he was unable to pick him for his second camp in June, which took in the matches against Andorra away and Senegal in Nottingham."
"I'd say it's natural for every player to almost question that, Guehi says, reflecting on his absence against Albania. You know, new manager coming in who knows what the team's going to look like, who knows who's going to play? What Guehi did next was what he always does stay firmly in the moment, as balanced as possible. Which would serve him well during a dramatic end to the summer transfer window when the Palace chair, Steve Parish, blocked his proposed move to Liverpool."
Marc Guehi experienced understandable self-doubt after Thomas Tuchel's arrival, given Tuchel had previously sanctioned his sale from Chelsea and initially left him unused against Albania. An eye injury further disrupted his selection. Guehi responded by staying present, training intensely, and joining England for the Andorra and Serbia matches. He started both games, excelled in the 5-0 win over Serbia, and scored his first international goal. A proposed summer transfer to Liverpool was blocked by Crystal Palace chair Steve Parish, but Guehi's performances in camp helped him win Tuchel's trust and cement his place in the team.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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