Thomas Tuchel Chewed Out Djed Spence in Training. The England Defender’s Response Was Perfect.

England defender Djed Spence got an earful from manager Thomas Tuchel during a World Cup training session over the weekend. The clip went viral fast. Tuchel could be heard yelling at the Tottenham full-back to wake up after a sluggish start to a passing drill.

But Spence isn’t sweating it. In fact, he basically shrugged it off.

“It’s normal,” Spence told TalkSport. “He’s a great manager. He wants the best from his players. He demands high standards and for this tournament, we need to be ready, we need to be on it.”

Tuchel’s intensity isn’t new. The German coach has a reputation for demanding perfection in everything his team does. That includes training sessions that most fans never see. Spence said the criticism isn’t personal and that every player gets the same treatment if they slip up.

“I wouldn’t be the only one he says it to,” Spence said. “It’s part of the game.”

Tuchel’s half-time talk that turned the game

England opened their World Cup campaign with a 4-2 win over Croatia, and Spence made his tournament debut off the bench. But the game wasn’t easy. Croatia fought back twice after England took the lead. Tuchel’s words at half-time apparently helped steady the ship.

Spence credited the manager’s attention to detail and ability to connect with the squad.

“I think he’s a great manager, he’s a great guy. Very detailed in what he wants to do. I’ve got great respect for him,” Spence said. “It’s like what he always says, we’re building a family, we’ve built a brotherhood within the team, everyone has one dream, one brain.”

That brotherhood talk sounds nice, but the real test comes on the pitch. England has the talent to go deep in this tournament. The question is whether they can stay disciplined enough for Tuchel’s standards over a full month.

Spence’s role and what he actually wants to play

Spence came on at right-back against Croatia and looked sharp. But he’s also listed as cover on the left. That kind of versatility is useful for a tournament squad. When asked what position he prefers, his answer was simple.

“My preference is playing, of course,” he said. “You know that’s my natural position, that’s my favorite position.”

He didn’t get into specifics about where Tuchel sees him long-term. “I don’t go too deep into it, because obviously that’s our thing as a team, and we don’t really want to talk too much about what each player’s role is,” he said. But he did add that defending is “a really, really good one” when pressed.

Whatever position he ends up playing, Spence seems to understand one thing clearly: Tuchel isn’t going to ease up. And for a team chasing a World Cup, that might be exactly what they need.