Tuchel Addresses Maguire's Outburst Amid England Squad Selection

Thomas Tuchel has turned again to Manchester United’s present, but made it clear he still dislikes how a former Old Trafford mainstay handled England’s past.

The England head coach has named Kobbie Mainoo and Marcus Rashford in his squad for the extended international break, rewarding the United pair for their strong club form ahead of Nations League fixtures against Spain, Czechia and Croatia.

Harry Maguire, though, remains on the outside looking in – and Tuchel has now gone on record about the defender’s angry reaction to being left out of the World Cup squad.

Tuchel unimpressed by Maguire outburst

Maguire, a key figure under Michael Carrick at United, failed to make Tuchel’s squad for the tournament and did not hide his anger. The centre-back took to social media to say he was “shocked and gutted” by the call.

"I was confident I could have played a major part this summer for my country after the season I’ve had," he wrote. "I’ve been left shocked and gutted by the decision. I’ve loved nothing more than putting that shirt on and representing my country over the years. I wish the players all the best this summer."

His family doubled down. His mother Zoe said she was “absolutely disgusted” by the omission, while his brother Joe called it “possibly the worst decision I’ve ever seen in my life. No words."

Maguire later travelled to New York to work as a pundit on The Rest is Football podcast, where he explained how he learned of Tuchel’s decision.

"He [Tuchel] FaceTimes everyone. It was quite an awkward call," Maguire said. "I said straightaway I was really disappointed. I thought I did enough to be in the squad and thought I could have helped and had a part to play on and off the pitch.

"He said he can't give me an excuse but he had gone with the four lads who got him through the qualifiers.

"It was tough to take. I did think I would be in the squad after being selected for the March camp under him for the first time. I did really well in both games and then went back to Manchester United and finished the season really strongly."

Tuchel has now given his side of that fallout. After unveiling his latest squad, he told talkSPORT he did not appreciate the public backlash.

"It does not help," Tuchel said. "I will not hold it against him for the rest of his life, because I’m not that type of person. I can forget easily and quickly.

"But I didn’t like it and it doesn’t help. I’ve not spoken to him since."

United’s new England faces

While Maguire’s England future hangs in the balance, United are still represented. Mainoo, the breakout midfielder, and Rashford, back in the frame after rediscovering form, have both been called up for the Nations League campaign.

Two United players in. One high-profile omission still casting a shadow. The message from Tuchel is blunt enough: form gets you in, but how you handle disappointment might just decide how long you stay there.