England interim head coach Lee Carsley has made the startling revelation that next permanent boss Thomas Tuchel is yet to speak to him.
And in another interesting development, Carsley – who handed Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Lewis Hall their first senior call-ups on Thursday – has also confirmed he knew nothing about Tuchel’s appointment as new national team boss on the night of the 2-1 loss to Greece, a match which took place two days after the Football Association claimed the German had signed his contract.
Tuchel officially starts work on January 1 and Mail Sport revealed on Tuesday that he would have no influence on Carsley’s squad selection for next week’s games versus Greece and Ireland, news the interim boss confirmed on Thursday.
However, Carsley also disclosed that the former Chelsea head coach is yet to pick his brains ahead of starting the job as Gareth Southgate’s permanent replacement.
When asked if Tuchel has spoken to him, Carsley responded: ‘No,’ though the current incumbent has offered his congratulations to his successor through a text message.
England interim boss Lee Carsley (above) has revealed Thomas Tuchel is yet to speak to him
The German boss was appointed England’s new permanent head coach last month by the FA
England continue their Nations League campaign against Greece and Ireland later this month
When asked to expand, Carsley added: ‘I think with the press conference they [the FA] had, it was quite clear in terms of the starting date.
‘He is fully respectful that I am in charge at the moment. That is the priority. I do not feel hard done by or shunned.
‘If anything I look forward to hopefully create a situation where we can hand over a healthy squad of players to the new coach and his squad.’
It is also understood Tuchel is not planning on attending the games against Greece and Ireland next week, which are England’s two final fixtures before his first fixtures in charge in March – instead watching on from far.
In their official press communication in announcing Tuchel’s appointment, the FA claimed that the ex-Bayern Munich coach signed his contract on October 8.
And speaking from St George’s Park on Thursday, Carsley said he did not know that Tuchel had already been confirmed as England coach on the night of October 10, the day of the shock loss to Greece at Wembley.
The defeat was followed by a hugely uncomfortable post-match press conference in which Carsley sent mixed signals as to whether he wanted to be considered for the permanent job.
Asked whether he knew Tuchel had ‘signed’ his contract ahead of the Greece game, Carsley responded: ‘No.’
Mail Sport revealed last week that Tuchel would not have an influence on England’s next squad
Newcastle’s Lewis Hall (left) and Southampton’s Taylor Harwood-Bellis (right) were among the surprise names selected by Carsley ahead of England’s upcoming Nations League games
The FA, led by CEO Mark Bullingham (above), claim the German manager signed his England contract two days after Lee Carsley’s side suffered their disappointing 2-1 defeat by Greece
Then asked whether he knew about Tuchel’s appointment on October 13, the night of the victory over Finland, following which Carsley provided further unclear indications over whether he wanted the job, the former Everton midfielder answered: ‘I can’t remember to be honest.
‘My focus was massively on the games, on the camp. In terms of the timeline it has been spoken about within the press conference that they [The FA] did.
‘In terms of my position in that I’m really comfortable with the way that it was handled. I didn’t feel undermined or anything like that.’
On the inclusions of Harwood-Bellis, Hall and Curtis Jones – who earned his first original full squad call-up on Thurday – Carsley added: ‘They’re both [Harwood-Bellis and Hall] players who have played a lot of minutes this season and have shown they can consistently play in the Premier League at a high level.
‘Players that I both know really well. The relationship and longevity that I’ve known Taylor from Manchester City and captaining the under-21s, having a successful summer with promotion and playing in the Premier League week in and week out, he’s a player that really deserves it.
‘An outstanding captain and a brilliant example to the rest of the players in the under-21s squad.
‘Lewis is a player who’s took his time to settle in, high quality, left-footed and a player who deserves to be in and has shown he can be really consistent.’