England boss Tuchel defends Arsenal stars and gives updates on their fitness | OneFootball

Thomas Tuchel has insisted that Arsenal stars Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice “desperately wanted to play” for England following their withdrawal from the camp.

The duo join a number of players from Mikel Arteta’s side who have withdrawn from their national teams across the current international break.

“They had a medical assessment, they wanted desperately to play, just to get the narrative straight,” insisted the England boss. “They wanted desperately to be involved. But it just made no sense to take this risk.

“Maybe if it would have been the last game of the season, we would have kept them and tried everything. But in this moment of the season it just made no sense.

“The risk for making it worse was just way too big. They were both in discomfort, clearly in discomfort when we did the medical assessment. So it just made no sense that they stayed.”

Their club teammate Noni Madueke also left the camp after picking up an injury against Uruguay. The winger was spotted in a knee brace after the match.

“The assessment with the pictures was slightly better than his feeling,” revealed Tuchel. “But he will be out for some days.”

The England boss continued to defend the players that have withdrawn from his squad. Tuchel admitted: “Disappointed, but not disappointed with the players. Just disappointed with the fact.

“We want everybody in good spirits and good health but it’s just the reality of the season, the reality of the end of March, the reality of having players involved in European matches and more than just one competition.

“That’s just the reality of it.”

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