**Thomas Tuchel Clarifies Omission of Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, and Jack Grealish from England Squad**
*By Rajdeep Saha | October 3, 2025*
England manager Thomas Tuchel has addressed the recent exclusion of Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, and Jack Grealish from the national squad. Despite the players returning from injury and showcasing strong form at their respective clubs, the trio has been left out, prompting questions and speculation.
### No Issues with the Players
Tuchel emphasized that he has “no problem” with Bellingham, Foden, or Grealish. Speaking to BBC Sport, he revealed that Bellingham personally expressed his desire to be included after a phone conversation. “He is a special player, and for special players there can always be special rules,” Tuchel explained.
He added, “Jude always deserves to be here. There is also the situation that he has not quite gathered his full rhythm again at Real Madrid — he has not finished a full match recently. He wanted to be called up. We had a phone call.”
### Appreciation for Excluded Players
The England manager made it clear that his decision does not diminish his appreciation for the trio’s talent and impact. He praised Foden’s performances for Manchester City as well as Grealish’s influence at Everton.
“Jack knows that I see how influential he is for Everton and that he is on the way to being the best version of himself,” Tuchel stated. “Jude knows he is a special player. He knows that I know he is a special player.”
### Accepting the Decision
Tuchel urged the players to accept the decision, reinforcing that it was not a reflection against them but rather based on team needs. “They have to accept it and nothing changes this decision against them or for the other players,” he said. “It does not change my appreciation for their talent and personality.”
### Selection Rationale
After England’s commanding 5-0 victory over Serbia, Tuchel opted to maintain a largely consistent squad. He described the choice as straightforward owing to the team’s strong performance and harmony.
However, the manager acknowledged the tough decisions involved in squad selection, noting that some deserving players were left out due to limited spots.
### Current England Squad Overview
**Goalkeepers:**
Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), Jordan Pickford (Everton), James Trafford (Manchester City)
**Defenders:**
Dan Burn (Newcastle United), Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace), Reece James (Chelsea), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), Myles Lewis-Skelly (Arsenal), Jarell Quansah (Bayer Leverkusen), Djed Spence (Tottenham Hotspur), John Stones (Manchester City)
**Midfielders:**
Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest), Morgan Gibbs-White (Nottingham Forest), Jordan Henderson (Brentford), Ruben Loftus-Cheek (AC Milan), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa)
**Forwards:**
Jarrod Bowen (West Ham United), Eberechi Eze (Arsenal), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle United), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Marcus Rashford (Barcelona, on loan from Manchester United), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa)
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Thomas Tuchel’s clarifications provide insight into the selection process and underline the respect he holds for Bellingham, Foden, and Grealish despite their absence from the current squad. Fans can expect the manager to reassess the squad continuously as the season progresses.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/sports/tuchel-on-his-decision-to-omit-bellingham-foden-and-grealish/story