Thomas Tuchel makes major Bukayo Saka England admission and explains selection call

Thomas Tuchel maintains that he would have forfeited all credibility had he gone back on a dressing room pledge.

And, remarkably, Tuchel revealed it wouldn't just be Jude Bellingham who would have missed out on his England squad without injuries, as Bukayo Saka wouldn't have been selected either.

England manager Tuchel has sent shockwaves through the footballing world by omitting Real Madrid sensation Bellingham despite his return to fitness following summer shoulder surgery.

Bellingham was absent for last month's commanding 5-0 triumph over Serbia, which Tuchel describes as England's finest display under his stewardship, with the likes of Morgan Rogers, Noni Madueke and Elliot Anderson all rising to the occasion.

Tuchel disclosed that he addressed the players in the changing room and vowed to acknowledge their contributions, even stating that had Madueke avoided injury, the recovered Saka would likely have been excluded.

"For credibility, as a coach, you need to walk the talk," Tuchel explained. "If this really meant something, the thing that I told the players after the game, and you, this is a very straightforward and logical decision.

"I didn't want to leave anyone out who was in the last camp. What would be my explanation to leave them out and also be authentic in my words? After the Serbia match I went into the dressing room and I told them what I told you.

"Imagine I have a phone call this time and leave four players out, and say, 'Now I take A,B,C and D, and not you' – what would you think as a player? 'Didn't you tell me that was exactly how you wanted it, and now I'm out?' Would you not think that?

"I think, as a player you would. Saka is another one of England's – very few – must-picks, and yet he missed out last time through injury and Madueke stepped up."

When asked whether he would have left out Saka had Madueke been fit, Tuchel said: "I'm saying there's a chance. It's very likely I wouldn't have, but you will never know now."

Would Saka have understood that? "He would have had no other choice," Tuchel added.

And that was Tuchel's overall message to the whole squad – that there no guarantees over places anymore.

Tuchel revealed he called Adam Wharton, Trevoh Chalobah, Phil Foden, Jack Grealish and Curtis Jones to explain his decision to leave them out this time. At least that further justifies Bellingham's explanation, but there was a brutal exclusion of Kyle Walker whose whole career ambition now is to make 100 caps.

He is four short. But Walker, 35, did not get a call.

"I felt that it was necessary to speak to the guys that I just mentioned, and explain to them the decisions personally, so they understand." Did he ring Walker? "No. But I will not get into specifics."

Tuchel is also hoping for a big performance against Wales at Wembley in next Thursday's friendly. They face Latvia four days later but he knows some of the fans need convincing.

The England supporters ceased their chants of 'Thomas Tuchel's army' during the last camp, but the victory over Serbia has given them something to cheer about.

Upon hearing that his name was no longer being sung, Tuchel responded with amusement: "They stopped? They have one? They stopped? Why would they stop... this is unacceptable!

"We can only change it by performance... That's the only thing, it's on us, we will not complain about playing at Wembley, never, this is a very, very special place to play football and call home.

"We're excited. The derby character of the match against Wales helps, I think it will be a huge crowd, I think the crowd will be excited because of what they saw in the last match.

"We will try to build on that and create the same momentum, play without the handbrakes and let the players go, and hopefully they can push themselves."