Tuchel says Manchester City players worry in Inglaterra as verdict looms

Thomas Tuchel told reporters on Friday that the England squad has been discussing the Premier League’s guilty verdict against Manchester City, a case that has dominated conversation within the England camp in Inglaterra. He said the topic is “very much discussed in the group” and that the players have only spoken about it briefly during a break between matches.

Players’ anxiety amid appeal

Tuchel confirmed that two Manchester City members – Elliot Anderson and Marc Guéhi – are in the England squad for the upcoming Nations League clash with Croatia. He added that Nico O’Reilly was also called up but was forced to withdraw after sustaining an injury and has since returned to the club.

The German coach acknowledged that the City players are receiving “a lot of messages, phone calls and feedback” about the club’s situation, describing their concern as a natural human reaction when the future of their employer is uncertain.

Impact on selection policy

Despite the turmoil, Tuchel insisted he would still consider picking the City players even if a future sanction saw the club relegated from the Premier League, stating he always aims to choose “the best team for the camp, for the occasion, for the tournament”. He stressed that each case would be assessed individually.

Tuchel also addressed broader squad issues, noting that the decision on whether to retain Trent Alexander‑Arnold at right‑back for the Croatia game remains open, and he praised Bukayo Saka’s progress, saying the winger still has “a big chance to start again tomorrow” if fit.

The financial case centres on alleged breaches between the 2009/10 and 2017/18 seasons, with accusations that Manchester City inflated revenues by more than £900 million and concealed payments exceeding £830 million from its owners, the Abu Dhabi United Group. An independent Premier League panel found the club guilty of providing inaccurate financial information, over‑valued sponsorship contracts linked to the owners, and failing to disclose player and former manager Roberto Mancini’s payments.

Manchester City has lodged a full appeal, claiming “irrefutable evidence” of innocence and contesting the panel’s findings. The club has also been criticised for not cooperating with the league’s investigations since 2018, allegedly withholding documents and information.