Thomas Tuchel said Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice were “clearly in discomfort” and that it “made absolutely no sense” for them to stay with England, as the head coach defended the decision to release Arsenal’s withdrawn players before the Japan friendly.
Thomas Tuchel has defended the withdrawal of Arsenal trio Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice and Noni Madueke from the England squad, insisting the decision was driven by medical reality rather than outside noise. England confirmed on Saturday that eight players had left camp before Tuesday’s friendly with Japan, with Rice and Saka returning to Arsenal for medical assessment and Madueke joining them after suffering a knock in the 1-1 draw with Uruguay.
Speaking before the Japan game, Tuchel made clear he did not blame players for leaving camp. “I’m disappointed but not disappointed with the players,” he said. “Just disappointed with the fact, of course I want everyone to be in good spirit and in health but like you said, it’s just a reality of the season, it’s the reality of end of March.” That set the tone for his response, which was noticeably more understanding than accusatory.
He then explained why England had allowed Rice and Saka to return to Arsenal. “They were both clearly in discomfort when we did the medical assessment,” Tuchel said. “It made absolutely no sense that they stayed.” He added that both players had wanted to remain involved despite the issue. “They wanted desperately to play, to get the narrative straight, but it made no sense to make the risk.”
Rather than suggesting the club pushed players out of camp without England’s agreement, Tuchel’s comments indicate the England medical staff were comfortable with the decision once they had assessed the situation. In other words, the manager’s public line was that this was a risk-management call, not a dispute.
Tuchel also placed the decision in the context of the season. “If it was the last game of the season we would have kept them, but in this moment of the season it did not make sense,” he said. “The risk for making it was way too big.” That explanation matters because it speaks directly to the wider debate that has followed Arsenal’s cluster of international withdrawals. Tuchel was effectively saying the stage of the campaign made caution the sensible option.
Madueke’s case was slightly different from Rice and Saka because he had started against Uruguay before being forced off in the first half. He was among the players who left camp after the draw, alongside Rice, Saka, John Stones, Adam Wharton, Aaron Ramsdale, Fikayo Tomori and Dominic Calvert-Lewin. England were left with a reduced group for the Japan match, but Tuchel’s language suggested he saw that as part of the reality of the March window rather than a slight on the national team.
For Arsenal, Tuchel’s comments offer useful clarity. He did not question the players’ commitment, and he did not suggest the withdrawals were manufactured. Instead, he spoke about disappointment with the circumstance, not the individuals, and repeatedly emphasised discomfort, medical assessment and unnecessary risk. In a week when Arsenal’s growing list of international withdrawals has become a major talking point, that amounted to a clear public defence from England’s manager.