England: Thomas Tuchel issues verdict on 'crazy' new fashion trend ahead of latest World Cup qualifier | OneFootball

Three Lions players have been spotted sporting strange-looking footwear

Thomas Tuchel has called on his England players to take up meditation and keep wearing their new ‘mind-altering’ slippers.

Defender Ezri Konsa was seen wearing the shoes around the Tottenham Hotspur training ground on Wednesday, where the England players have been training ahead of Thursday’s World Cup qualifier against Serbia at Wembley.

“I just got them today,” Konsa said. “Apparently these things do something to the brain. They send signals. I’m being deadly serious. I hope [their impact is positive].”

Tuchel was also asked about the players’ new clothing trend and replied: “These shoes, hey! Crazy. I don’t know much about these shoes!

“They just told me they can focus better in meetings if they wear these shoes. I hope they believe it. Maybe the most important thing is that they believe it.

“I don’t know the science behind it. They are desperate to tell me but I haven’t found time to get my head around it. But all the players are wearing them.

When quizzed on whether he would wear them himself, the 52-year-old joked: “Before press conferences. I think we’ll try them. Let’s try. I’m always happy to try stuff.”

Tuchel has long been big on meditation and revealed: “It started way before Chelsea, but at Chelsea we had someone who was regularly on it. It helps me with my discipline. I should do it every day, but I am not disciplined enough. Normally, when I wake up and in the evening. Twice a day would be ideal but once a day I try.”

Asked whether he had urged his players to try meditation, he replied: “I would encourage everyone to try it. I believe it works.

“We have Suzanne [Scott, the team’s movement therapist] in camp, who does fantastic breathwork sessions. She does more stuff than just that but she does it and the players buy in to it. They feel the relief.

“I did it with the whole team at [Borussia] Dortmund. It was a nice experience. But football became more individual. Players have their support system around them. A lot of them invest in meditation and breathwork, Pilates, visualisation and yoga.

When asked what makes him stressed, Tuchel joked: “Journalists, players, sporting directors, people in general, everything about football!”