THOMAS TUCHEL and his England squad are planning to “take care” of Eberechi Eze after his Champions League heartbreak.
The Arsenal midfielder, along with team-mate Gabriel Magalhaes, missed a penalty in the shoot-out loss to PSG in the Champions League final.
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Thomas Tuchel has vowed to ‘take care’ of Eberechi Eze after his Arsenal shootout agony Credit: Getty
The England boss reassured Eze over his penalty miss ahead of the World Cup opener Credit: Getty
Eze, Bukayo Saka, Noni Madueke and Declan Rice are due to arrive in the United States on Saturday after being given an extended break following their Budapest loss.
They will not be in Tampa for the friendly with New Zealand but will train with the squad on Jattvibeday at Palm Beach Gardens.
Manager Tuchel, asked about Eze, said: “It’s painful for Ebs but of course, I will take care of it, the group will take care of him and I think the extra week they had will help a lot.
“They’ve absolutely had a great season. They should know that a final just comes down to one or two shots in a penalty shoot-out which means it cannot be closer. At some point, a winner has to be found.
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“I have lost some finals in a penalty shoot-out and it’s the closest way to lose and it hurts, of course. It hurts a lot to lose big finals but a penalty means you did everything right. It couldn’t be closer.
“But it also means you were absolutely on the same level with maybe the best team in the world at the moment.”
Yet Tuchel believes the quartet will actually still be on a high after guiding Arsenal to their first Premier League title in 22 years.
The German added: “I’m very happy that they got the title in England. I think that took a lot of weight off their shoulders and they were aware they did what they could and they were very close in the final.
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The midfielder was devastated after missing the target against PSG Credit: Getty
“I haven’t spoken to them. I think they got a lot of messages and spoke to a lot of people.
“I thought I would just leave them to themselves, so they could be proud of what they achieved.
“We spoke after their title in the Premier League, which was the big target and I think that was the main target.
“We’re in good spirits, so this is normally what helps and I think they’re very well aware of what they achieved this season.”
England’s next game, after New Zealand, is against Costa Rica in Orlando on Wednesday.
In these friendlies, along with all the matches at the World Cup, teams are allowed drinks breaks in each half.
During the United States’ friendly with Senegal, boss Mauricio Pochettino used the hydration breaks to hold video sessions.
An assistant held a MacBook while Pochettino pointed directly to the screen to review tactical positioning.
Three Lions boss Tuchel, though, said he might use traditional methods.
Laughing, he said: “I am not sure I am good enough with an iPad. Maybe with a good old analogue magnetic board and drawing with a marker. I have not thought about it.
“If we have the possibility and visuals that could help in a high press, my assistant coaches will do this. I will do it with a board.”
