A storm is brewing between England manager Thomas Tuchel and Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca, as the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup disrupts preparations for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers and international friendlies.
Tuchel, newly appointed as England’s head coach, has refused to release players early from international duty despite the overlap with Chelsea’s Club World Cup campaign. With eight of his 26-man squad involved in both events, Tuchel insisted:
> “This is an important camp. Why send players away early? What message does that send?”
This stance has triggered an immediate backlash from Maresca, whose squad includes five affected Chelsea players. He fired back:
> “Tuchel’s remarks are misleading. This isn’t about money. It’s about player health, and unfortunately that’s being ignored.”
The disagreement echoes deeper conflicts between national teams and clubs over player workload, recovery time, and prioritization — especially as both sides prepare for major global tournaments.
With Tuchel warning players like Trent Alexander-Arnold about mistakes that could cost them a spot — “One error and you’re packing your bags” — the pressure is mounting, and the tug-of-war over player availability could soon erupt into a full-scale battle between club and country.
More drama is expected as the Club World Cup nears and England’s
fixtures tighten.
