Tuchel skips Man City talks as Kane backs England focus

England head coach Thomas Tuchel stated he did not engage in discussions with his Manchester City-based squad members following the independent commission’s ruling that found the club guilty of breaching Premier League financial regulations. The verdict, covering breaches between 2009-10 and 2017-18, was announced just under three hours before England’s Nations League match in Czechia.

Manager avoids club controversy

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, Tuchel admitted he had a "bad conscience" for not checking in with the affected players but emphasized his priority remained preparing the team for their fixture. He declined to comment further on the issue, noting that Marc Guehi and Elliot Anderson performed well despite the news breaking during the camp. Nico O’Reilly missed the game due to injury.

The Etihad Stadium outfit now faces potential severe sanctions after details regarding "sham deals" were revealed. During the post-match press conference, an England press officer prevented Tuchel from answering questions about the City verdict. In the mixed zone at Fortuna Arena, no City-connected players spoke to the media.

Kane insists on national duty

Captain Harry Kane expressed confidence that the situation would not distract the England team. He revealed he learned of the official confirmation only after the match concluded. "It’s not for me to comment on right now," Kane said. "I need to obviously understand more of the information... But, as I always say, when I’m with England, when we are with England, it’s about England and that’s what we focus on."

Kane highlighted that the squad’s attention is currently fixed on the upcoming match against Croatia. England secured a 2-0 victory over the 10-man hosts in Prague, with Guehi praised by Tuchel for his reaction following a tough previous encounter against Spain.

Squad rotation and travel plans

Tuchel outlined logistical adjustments for the remainder of the four-match camp. The team decided to remain in Prague for an additional night rather than returning to England, aiming to secure better rest before traveling directly to Croatia for two training sessions. This schedule provides three days between matches, compared to the two-day turnaround experienced previously.

The manager indicated that Ezri Konsa and Nico O’Reilly will be assessed ahead of the weekend’s fixture. While refusing to specify how many changes he would make to the lineup, Tuchel stressed the importance of fielding available players against a direct rival. England travels to Rijeka to face Croatia before concluding the camp against Czechia at Wembley next Tuesday.