Thomas Tuchel says media distorted comments before England’s Spain clash

Thomas Tuchel accused the media of twisting his remarks about Spain’s anti-racism protocol as England prepare to face Spain in the Nations League on Sunday.

The England manager was speaking at a news conference at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano on Saturday ahead of a match that will decide the winner of League A Group C. Both teams have already qualified for the quarter-finals, with Spain top on 15 points and England second on 12. Spain won the reverse fixture 3-2 at Wembley.

“Spain seem unbeatable and are going through a wonderful period,” Tuchel said, as reported by Spanish newspaper Marca. “They have been a major force in football for many years and have won many major trophies recently. We will try to stop their winning run and beat them.”

Tuchel described the match as a meeting between “two great forces in world football”, adding that England had been close to winning at Wembley and would seek victory in Madrid.

He confirmed that all of his players were physically fit, including Ezri Konsa and Djed Spence, giving him several options for the game. James Trafford will start in goal.

“We will see if we can give him this opportunity,” said Tuchel. “We will trust him and watch how he handles a high-pressure match such as tomorrow’s. I have complete confidence in my team and believe the players are in excellent condition.”

England’s manager said his side did not suffer from an inferiority complex against leading nations, despite the responsibility attached to representing the country.

“The England shirt carries great responsibility, of course, and we speak about that openly,” he said. “We set a new record in World Cup qualifying, but there is a small step between showing the quality we have in training and producing it across a full 90 minutes.”

Tuchel praised Harry Kane, calling the England captain “a pivotal player, a Ballon d’Or winner and a leader who sets an example through his actions”. He also highlighted Kane’s role in building attacks, helping move the ball from England’s half into the opposition half and contributing to their passing game.

The German manager said he believed England could win a major tournament, despite the pain of their World Cup semi-final exit. He added that the team’s mentality and confidence remained strong and that he was pleased with their progress.

On the controversy surrounding his comments about the anti-racism protocol and Spain manager Luis de la Fuente, Tuchel said: “I was very polite, but you rushed to tell your manager that I said racism exists in Spain. I did not say there is racism in Spain. That is how the press works. The dressing room is the place where racism is least present.”

He said his message had been distorted and that he expected respectful conditions everywhere, adding that he did not anticipate any such incident on Sunday.

Tuchel also described Lamine Yamal as one of football’s most influential and best players, while praising Jude Bellingham as one of the world’s most talented and entertaining midfielders. He said Bellingham had excelled at the World Cup, been decisive for Real Madrid and would be at his best in matches such as this one.

Tuchel added that the Nations League was taken seriously by England, with Portugal’s success showing the value of winning the competition. It also provides preparation for future tournaments, including the European Championship.