Bukayo Saka England withdrawal precautionary – Tuchel

England manager Thomas Tuchel has defended his decision to release Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice from international duty, insisting that playing the Arsenal duo during the current window would have been an irresponsible gamble with their fitness.

The England boss confirmed that despite the players’ eagerness to represent their country, medical assessments revealed they were struggling with physical issues that made their participation in the upcoming friendly against Japan impossible.

Tuchel’s comments come as he navigates his first major squad hurdle since taking the reins, with a total of eight players withdrawing from the camp due to various ailments.

“Bukayo and Declan desperately wanted to play; they have a fantastic spirit and love being here,” Tuchel told reporters during a press conference at St. George’s Park.

“But they were clearly in discomfort. It made no sense to take this risk for us or for them. There was a genuine risk of making the situation much worse, and at this stage of the season, we have a responsibility to protect the players.”

Tuchel emphasized that the decision was based on clinical data rather than club pressure. While some critics have questioned the high number of withdrawals during the March break—which included John Stones and Adam Wharton—Tuchel remained pragmatic.

He noted that while he would prefer to have his full strength available to build tactical cohesion, he would not jeopardize a player’s long-term availability for a non-competitive fixture.

The manager described the withdrawals as “precautionary,” noting that the medical staff flagged specific concerns that could have evolved into long-term injuries if pushed.

“If this were the final of a major tournament, maybe the conversation is different,” Tuchel added.

“But right now, the reality of the season is intense. We sent them back to Arsenal so they can get the specific treatment they need.”