Thomas Tuchel has denied he is picking on Djed Spence after he was seen screaming at the England defender during Tuesday's goalless draw against Ghana. The Tottenham full-back was making his first start at a major tournament after a positive impact off the bench against Croatia, but attracted his manager's ire before being substituted midway through the second half.
Tuchel's Sideline Frustration
Tuchel had earlier been spotted urging Spence to 'wake up' during an open training session, and was apparently unhappy again shortly before the 25-year-old made way for Nico O'Reilly. Explaining his exasperation, the Three Lions boss said: 'I wanted him to be more engaged in the attacking phase. To start our attacks a bit wider and to have more runs through the last line. Overall, it was his first start for England in a major tournament and I always put it into perspective. I have to scream because nobody hears me otherwise. It's all good with Djed. We brought on O'Reilly and it almost paid off with a header and a big chance for Harry.'
Wilshere Defends Tuchel's Methods
Two high-profile examples of Tuchel barking instructions at Spence led to suggestions the defender is being picked on, but former England and Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere dismissed the notion. The Luton Town boss told talkSPORT: 'I think it's quite normal. When we were growing up, we used to get screamed at, and we just took it. It's kind of now gone through that period of coaching where there's a little bit more of an arm round [a player]… I think it's very individual. You know the players that you can do that to; I think you know the players that don't need it and know when they're probably not doing what they should be doing. I saw the clip from training as well when Tuchel was shouting, 'Wake up!' to Djed. I also saw Djed's comments and he's like, 'Yeah, it's normal; he's a top coach; he demands a lot'. I think he'll know the ones [he needs to remind]. You probably won't see him doing that to Harry Kane, because Harry Kane knows, and it's probably the same with Dec [Declan Rice]. But there are certain players that can switch off; they can lose focus a little bit. That's him trying to help Djed, so I don't see a problem with it.'
Spence's Performance and Reaction
Spence delivered a satisfactory display in the goalless draw, which saw England fail to break down a stubborn Ghana side. Despite the manager's visible frustration, the defender has reportedly taken the criticism in stride, acknowledging Tuchel's high standards. England's next World Cup match will be crucial as they seek to secure progression from the group stage.
