The British press has been focusing on Thomas Tuchel, the new England manager, due to his agreement with the Football Association (FA), which allows him to travel regularly to Germany, even though this means missing several live matches.

Questions about his deal with the FA

The British newspaper The Times reported on Tuesday that the FA has granted this flexibility to the German coach, who was officially hired on January 1 and will make his debut on the England bench during the upcoming international break, when they face Albania (March 21) and Latvia (March 24).

This deal has sparked criticism, as it will mean Tuchel misses three rounds of Premier League matches, the third round of the FA Cup, and both semi-finals of the League Cup.

A foreign coach under scrutiny

It’s worth noting that Tuchel is just the third foreign manager in England's history, after Sven-Göran Eriksson and Fabio Capello. Since his appointment, the decision to choose a non-English coach has been questioned.

Additionally, there has been debate in the country about the effectiveness of the St. George’s Park training center, as it hasn’t produced high-level coaches. In his first press conference, Tuchel was even asked if he would sing the God Save the King anthem during matches.

These types of criticisms aren’t new. Sarina Wiegman, the current manager of the England women’s team, was also questioned for choosing to continue living in the Netherlands after taking the role. A British media outlet even suggested that the FA might force her to move to England to do her job.

However, Wiegman's success is undeniable. Under her leadership, England won the 2022 European Championship, the country’s first title since the 1966 World Cup, and reached the final of the last World Cup, where they were defeated by Spain. The Dutch coach has turned the Lionesses into one of the most competitive teams in the world. In his first 47 days as manager, Tuchel has attended 17 matches involving English teams. However, doubts about his residency and commitment to the role remain a topic of debate in English football.