England boss Thomas Tuchel explains Nottingham Forest decision as trio snubbed
by Sarah Clapson · NottinghamshireLiveThomas Tuchel has explained his decision not to include any Nottingham Forest representation in his first England squad.
Despite Nuno Espirito Santo’s third-placed side flying high in the Premier League, not a single Reds player was selected by the Three Lions boss when he unveiled his pick for the upcoming international fixtures on Friday morning. Morgan Gibbs-White, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Elliot Anderson would all have been hoping for call-ups given their fantastic form this season.
Anderson has been picked for the Under-21s but Gibbs-White and Hudson-Odoi will not get the opportunity to add to their senior caps collection - on this occasion at least. Tuchel’s selection provoked a fierce response among Reds fans on social media but the German has defended his calls.
"Morgan, Elliot and Callum play on such a high level every week and they are the high-fliers of the league. Elliot, for example, can still play for the Under-21s so he will be close by at St George's Park,” he told talkSPORT.
"I see Elliot Anderson as a No.8, Morgan as a No.10 and Callum as a winger. If you look at our squad you can also see they have huge competition on their position - world-class players who have proved themselves on the same level as Nottingham Forest, who have proved themselves in international football and even Champions League.
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"They know it. They accept it. It is never easy to bring this message. It is never easy to take the message in. But I just can tell everyone that we acknowledge the outstanding season they have and the calls were very close.”
In a separate interview, Tuchel namechecked Gibbs-White, James Maddison, Conor Gallagher, Jacob Ramsey and Jarrad Branthwaite as players that could count themselves unlucky to miss out. And he also said there would be scrutiny over his selection, regardless of who he picked.
“I would be surprised if there was not a surprise and the debate, I think it comes with the job,” he said. “Everyone has a strong opinion about it, it’s fair enough.”