Since taking on the role as England’s new manager on January 1, Thomas Tuchel has been noticeably absent from more than half of the Premier League matchdays.

While many expected his presence to be a constant, he has only been at two of the five weekends of fixtures so far.

Missing Key Matches

Tuchel has also missed out on both FA Cup rounds and all four Carabao Cup semi-final games, as reported by The Times.

This contrasts sharply with Gareth Southgate and his assistant Steve Holland, who consistently attend an average of five Premier League matches each week.

A Deal for Flexibility

Under the terms of his 18-month contract, Tuchel is allowed to work remotely from Germany.

This arrangement provides him the flexibility to focus on leading England toward the 2026 World Cup while maintaining proximity to his family in Germany.

However, it’s worth noting that there’s no indication Tuchel is neglecting his duties; he has simply not been attending matches in person as often as one might expect.

Attending Key Fixtures

Though he’s missed some high-profile fixtures, Tuchel has attended a number of midweek games, including Chelsea vs. Bournemouth and Arsenal vs. Tottenham in mid-January.

Additionally, he’s been present for European games involving English clubs, such as Manchester City’s narrow 3-2 loss to Real Madrid last week.

A Busy Schedule

In total, Tuchel, who is 51 years old, has attended 17 matches both in England and across Europe since his appointment.

The Football Association has also confirmed that Tuchel has made several visits to St George’s Park, the national team’s training base.

Personal Life and Commitment to England

Tuchel, who has two daughters with his ex-wife Sissi, expressed excitement about his new role in England when it was announced.

Despite the flexibility of his schedule, Tuchel emphasized his passion for the Premier League and his commitment to his role as the national team manager.

“I love to live in England, and I’m looking forward to living here again,” Tuchel said at the time of his appointment.

“I want to be close to the Premier League and the players.

But I will also be close to my family in Germany.”

He continued, “I’m proud to be the English manager.

I’ll show respect for this role and country, and the goal over the next 18 months is clear: to achieve success and build a winning team for the 2026 World Cup.”

Looking Ahead

Tuchel’s first official fixtures as manager will be World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Latvia in March.

It’s clear that despite his absences from domestic fixtures, his focus is on leading England to success on the global stage.

This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!

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