Thomas Tuchel insisted Jude Bellingham’s omission from the England squad is due to the midfielder’s “lack of rhythm” and is nothing personal.
The 22-year-old missed September’s camp following shoulder surgery and has since played four matches for Real Madrid, starting only one.
Bellingham is again absent from this month’s double-header with games against Wales and Latvia, but Tuchel revealed the decision was made based on fitness alone.
“I understand your focus on Jude. First of all he’s a very special player and for special players there can be special rules, I get this,” Tuchel said.
“But for this camp we decided that we stick with our straightforward decision to invite the same team. That applies also for Jude, he deserves always to be in camp.
“I think on top of it there’s the situation that he has not fully gathered rhythm yet at Real Madrid. He’s back in the team, he hasn’t finished one full match until now, he has only started one match.
“So he is at the moment in the period where he gets his rhythm, where he gets back to full strength. There is this extra layer into the decision, but the decision stayed for this camp.
“He wanted to be called up, we had a phone call, there was no issue from that side.”
Asked if there is any problem between him and Bellingham, Tuchel added: “No, there is also no problem between me and Phil Foden, there is also no problem between me and Jack Grealish. Very special players.
“There is no problem at all, there is no personal problem.
“He just lacks rhythm, he hasn’t finished one complete match, like I said, and on top of it we stayed with our decision to stay with the same squad.”
