Tuchel Calls Up Mainoo and Rashford, Leaves Out Maguire
Thomas Tuchel has turned to Manchester again – but not to Harry Maguire.
The England head coach has called up Manchester United pair Kobbie Mainoo and Marcus Rashford for the upcoming extended international break, rewarding their club form with places in his latest squad for Nations League meetings with Spain, Czechia and Croatia.
Maguire, though, remains on the outside looking in, and Tuchel has now made it clear he did not appreciate how the defender handled his World Cup omission.
Tuchel unimpressed by Maguire reaction
Maguire was left out of Tuchel’s World Cup squad despite re-establishing himself as a key figure under Michael Carrick at Old Trafford. The decision stunned the centre-back, who chose to voice his anger publicly.
"I was confident I could have played a major part this summer for my country after the season I’ve had," Maguire wrote on social media. "I’ve been left shocked and gutted by the decision. I’ve loved nothing more than putting that shirt on and representing my country over the years. I wish the players all the best this summer."
The reaction did not stop there. His mother, Zoe, posted that she was "absolutely disgusted" by the call, while his brother Joe described it as "possibly the worst decision I've ever seen in my life. No words."
Maguire then travelled to New York to work on The Rest is Football podcast, where he detailed how he found out he had been left out.
"He [Tuchel] FaceTimes everyone. It was quite an awkward call," Maguire said. "I said straightaway I was really disappointed. I thought I did enough to be in the squad and thought I could have helped and had a part to play on and off the pitch.
"He said he can't give me an excuse but he had gone with the four lads who got him through the qualifiers.
"It was tough to take. I did think I would be in the squad after being selected for the March camp under him for the first time. I did really well in both games and then went back to Manchester United and finished the season really strongly."
Tuchel has now responded. After announcing his latest squad, he admitted Maguire’s public outburst left a sour taste.
"It does not help," he told talkSPORT. "I will not hold it against him for the rest of his life, because I’m not that type of person. I can forget easily and quickly.
"But I didn’t like it and it doesn’t help. I’ve not spoken to him since."
A blunt line. And a clear one. The door is not closed forever, but Maguire has work to do both on and off the pitch if he wants to change the manager’s mind.
United duo rewarded
While Maguire stays at Carrington during the break, two of his club team-mates will be packing their bags.
Kobbie Mainoo’s rise continues with another England call, his composure and range of passing for United convincing Tuchel he is ready for more responsibility at international level. Marcus Rashford, whose form this season has sharpened again, also keeps his place and will look to carry his club sharpness into the Nations League.
For now, United’s presence in the England camp belongs to Mainoo and Rashford. Maguire, once a guaranteed starter for his country, watches on from a distance, his international future suddenly far less certain.
