Former England captain John Terry has expressed concern that Thomas Tuchel is treating Djed Spence differently from the rest of the England squad at the World Cup. A viral clip showed Tuchel shouting at the Tottenham defender during the goalless draw with Ghana in the group stages, following a similar outburst during a training session in Kansas last month. Tuchel was also seen berating Spence during a throw-in in England's comeback victory over DR Congo, yelling, 'Djed! There is one on one, pay up front!' when the full-back chose to throw back to Marc Guehi instead of playing forward.
Terry Questions Consistency of Tuchel's Criticism
Speaking on Piers Morgan Uncensored, Terry said: 'I'm not saying he's picking him out – but he seems like he's having a proper dig at him. We've seen the training incident that we spoke about. I'm a little bit worried. I really like Tuchel, and I think he's a top and elite manager, but when I see this, I'm like, if that's Trent, I'm not sure he's behaving like that; I'm not sure he's talking to Trent like that. And maybe that's a decision of why he's picked a couple of these players, because he can go like that to these younger players or these new players in the squad, for me.'
Terry also questioned whether a more senior player like Trent Alexander-Arnold, who was left out of the World Cup squad, would receive the same public criticism. 'I've not seen Tuchel do that to anyone else. It just seems to be on two or three occasions he's dug Spence out,' Terry added.
Spence's Performance and Relationship with Tuchel
Despite the public outbursts, both Tuchel and Spence have insisted they have a good relationship. Spence has started two of England's four matches at the World Cup and is expected to start against Mexico on Sunday if Reece James does not recover from a hamstring injury in time. Terry acknowledged Tuchel's reliance on Spence, saying, 'But also, for me, he's then relied on him and played him again.'
Former Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan also weighed in, describing Spence as 'a bit of a cocky little sod,' referencing previous incidents where Spence refused to shake Thomas Frank's hand and made a point by extending his hand after being substituted. Terry interrupted Jordan's comments, stating, 'Listen, I'm not his fan. I don't think he's a good defender, I don't think he's a good footballer. He's played in a really struggling Spurs side this year.'
World Cup Context
England's World Cup campaign has seen them progress to the knockout stages, with Spence playing a role in two of their four matches. The team faces Mexico on Sunday in a crucial group stage match. Terry's comments add to the scrutiny surrounding Tuchel's man-management style, particularly with younger or less established players.
