National team manager asks for patience with Real Madrid midfielder after bench role | OneFootball

Jude Bellingham was recently involved in England national team action for the first time since June, but he couldn’t get a starting role for the team against Serbia on Thursday.

He came off the bench and immediately made an impact, creating the play that led to the 2-0 goal, even provoking mixed reaction from fans.

Speaking after the match, English national team coach Thomas Tuchel has asked for patience with Bellingham, explaining that it will be difficult for him to directly get into the groove.

What Tuchel said about Bellingham

Tuchel clarified that the decision to bench Bellingham was purely tactical and based on maintaining the established structure with players who had trained extensively.

“It would be unfair to ask Bellingham to understand everything already because we’ve changed the way we press in the last two call-ups.

“Declan (Rice), Morgan (Rogers), and Harry (Kane) have played together in three of the last four games,” he explained (h/t Mundo Deportivo).

Jude Bellingham appeared as a substitute against Serbia. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

The German coach emphasized the healthy competition for the attacking midfield role, a position Bellingham and Rogers are vying for.

“Right now they’re competing for the same position and they’re friends. They respect each other a lot. Morgan deserved to be on the pitch because he’s played three great games for us,” he added.

England’s focus now shifts to Sunday’s match against Albania. With England having already qualified for the World Cup, the pressure is off, allowing Tuchel room for rotation.

This final group stage match could be the perfect opportunity for Bellingham to return to the starting lineup for the Three Lions and continue to earn his place in the German coach’s primary plans for next year’s World Cup.