England's training sessions are clearly not for the faint of heart. Thomas Tuchel, the manager who's been bringing out the best in his players with a no-nonsense approach, has left an indelible mark on Ollie Watkins' experiences so far. "He's not afraid to shout at you," the Aston Villa striker revealed from the England training base in Kansas City, echoing sentiments shared by Tottenham Hotspur defender Djed Spence.
Watkins recalled a particularly memorable drill where Tuchel instructed Djed Spence to "wake up", drawing attention away from the defender's own mistakes. "It was lucky it wasn't me," Watkins quipped, implying that he'd been equally culpable just before the incident. While it might be unnerving for some, Watkins views Tuchel's high demands as a key factor in driving England towards their World Cup ambitions.
"He's a winner," Watkins confidently stated. "He always drives the standards and makes sure we're on our toes." The England players have witnessed firsthand Tuchel's ability to adapt his demeanour, transitioning from being "very demanding" during training sessions to "very relaxed and chilled" around camp.
For Djed Spence, who was directly addressed by Tuchel in the aforementioned drill, this wasn't an isolated incident. The 25-year-old defender called up despite Tottenham's domestic struggles explained that such verbal reminders are a normal part of elite-level training under a manager like Tuchel. "He demands the highest quality from his players," Spence reasoned, highlighting a strong working relationship with Tuchel who frequently speaks to him before and after sessions.
Spence is now likely first-choice cover at both left and right-back following Tino Livramento's injury withdrawal, having made an impact in England's World Cup opener against Croatia. As the team gears up for their next fixture against Ghana on Tuesday at 21:00 BST, Tuchel's extensive managerial experience – including a Champions League title with Chelsea and league successes with Paris St-Germain and Bayern Munich – will undoubtedly be pivotal in their quest for success.