Thomas Tuchel defended his squad selections, notably omitting Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly due to being ‘outperformed’ while recalling Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham and Manchester City’s Phil Foden for upcoming international matches.
England manager Thomas Tuchel has clarified his decision to leave Arsenal defender Ben White out of the latest national squad, confirming the player’s exclusion was due to personal circumstances.
The former Chelsea boss confirmed, as reported by Metro.co.uk, that the 27-year-old was omitted from the squad because he is preparing for the imminent birth of his first child, emphasizing the need for the player to be fully focused.
This decision extends White’s wait for an England return, having not featured since leaving the 2022 World Cup camp early.
Tuchel confirmed that, despite his recent performances for Arsenal and strong progress in general, the timing was the decisive factor.
“We had a talk and we decided that at the moment is not the moment because he will become a father very soon,” Tuchel said. “The baby is due on the exact date of the camp, it’s his first child. We wish him and his wife all the best for that.”
Tuchel maintained that the decision was a mutual one, made for the player’s best interest to ensure he could concentrate on his family during this crucial period.
“We thought if he comes back he should come back with a clear mind and a full focus on football which is now not the case so we decided together that this is not the camp for him to come back,” he explained. “He was ready to be selected but the main reason is because of family.”
The England manager stressed that White is still in contention for future squads, asserting that the door remains open for his return once his personal situation settles and he is ready to commit his full attention to the national team.