'They need a kick up the so-and-so!' - Thomas Tuchel backed to turn England from 'pussycats into lions' but former striker reckons players won't like German's approach

England have been on the rise over the last decade as Sir Gareth Southgate took the Three Lions to two European finals and on two deep World Cup runs. However, they always came up short, and after their Euro 2024 final loss to Spain, Southgate stood down and was eventually replaced by Tuchel. Former England forward Barnes has now backed the German coach to turn his players into 'lions'.

Speaking to Poker Scout, Barnes said: "Tough guy Tuchel can turn England pussycats into lions if players buy into his assertive approach: I think the England players, they like a softly-softly approach, which I think Gareth was perfect for. But maybe what they do need is a kick-up the so-and-so, because of course to win you may need someone like that. That's what Tuchel does. I don't think English players respond to that and that's not Tuchel's fault and that's wrong because you should respond to the manager no matter who he is.

"So that for me is going to be the biggest dynamic of how this team handles Tuchel because I don't think Tuchel is going to change. You know what he was like at Chelsea, but we don’t know where he is right now. We will find out soon enough. The dynamic between a manager and his players is the most important one. Tuchel’s a good manager, he's a very astute tactician, but as to whether the players are going to respond to his style, that is unknown."

However, Barnes has also claimed that England players will not be very happy with Tuchel's strong approach compared to Southgate: "Tuchel is going to be ranting and raving, I don’t think the players will like him: The thing about it is his combative style, you have to be that way because you don't have a long time to get your point across. The players are coming to you on a Monday for training, you're playing three or four days later, and you haven't even seen them for six weeks. So you do really have to get your point across and if it means getting your point across by shouting and screaming at them so they listen, I think that's what he will do, because that's who he is anyway. As for Tuchel, I'm not sure about him. From a tactical point of view, I know he's a good tactician, but more to do with the fact that he is shouting and screaming at people, that's what he normally does."

The Three Lions are set to play their first official game under Tuchel later on Friday against Albania in a World Cup qualifier at Wembley Stadium. They will then take on Latvia on Monday evening.