Thomas Tuchel praised Jude Bellingham's buy-in to the team ethic after another man-of-the-match performance from the 22-year-old drove England through to the knockout stages of the World Cup.
The head coach has consistently called on Bellingham to adapt the way he plays for Real Madrid when in an England shirt, and he is convinced the midfielder is a more potent force now because of it.
"We have to work in patterns and we have to work in units for the amount of attacking threat," Tuchel explained.
"If we all just play in freestyle no one knows what the other one is thinking. If we are in units I feel we get the understanding better and better, and Jude is a part of it because it is not only about the pattern, it is about the quality in the pattern."
Bellingham has been man-of-the-match twice in England's opening three World Cup games. He has scored two of England's six goals so far, and also contributed an assist, meaning he has been directly involved in 50 per cent of their goals at the tournament.
But against Panama, he was also the most important player when England didn't have the ball, winning more tackles (4) and more duels (11) than anyone else on the pitch.
"I'm not sure if it's a reaction but it is what we want from him," said Tuchel. "He has been very positive from the first day in camp. He is fully into all the things from him as a team player, and he brings his individual quality to decide football games.
"That is what you see in World Cups now and what you see from other teams and other big players. He is a key player. And he buys into all the things that we demand of him as a team player. Well done until now. He needs to keep on going."
Bellingham is one of only three England players who have scored so far in the World Cup. Marcus Rashford has one goal, and Harry Kane has three - becoming England's all-time leading World Cup goalscorer. But Tuchel is not worried about what others see as an over-reliance on Kane and Bellingham.
"We want these guys in the key moment and show up. I am convinced that Nico O'Reilly almost did it against Ghana, Harry did it, Jude did it, and I'm sure Morgan Rogers, Anthony Gordon, Noni [Madueke] and Bukayo [Saka] will do it when the time is there, and we need that."
Adepsalm
0
Tuchel has succeeded in bringing out the monster in JB and make him a more hungry player, this is also a way of preparing him for Jose Morinho next season, he’s playing like a fighter every game which suits morinho a lot
Adepsalm
0
the all knowing coach now praise a good player he never trusted and had doubts and even questioned himself by criticizing him.....the person that did well to advice that stubborn coach did so well by telling him to start Bellingham.....else he could have lost his job after the world cup he will learn some sense
And you think Tuchel doesn’t know what he’s doing? Did you hear him mention‘maybe it’s a reaction’ coaches sometimes pushed players into bringing the monster in them which is what Tuchel has done to JB, he’s now a better player in national team than he was last outing, the only problem is the English media who like to tell the coaches what to do every now n then
PrinceAbobyBlinkz
0
foolish coach praising him now but he nearly left him out of the squad
KumahEmmanuel011
0
the all knowing coach now praise a good player he never trusted and had doubts and even questioned himself by criticizing him.....the person that did well to advice that stubborn coach did so well by telling him to start Bellingham.....else he could have lost his job after the world cup he will learn some sense
wuwbklouz
0
who is Rodgers ahead Jude, Yu all Pandits go a die
Dondeiknuy
1
liyarmadir
Hi
Haaabdimop
2
liyarmadir
Rvicky
0
Play Mainoo
Suwcdenpst
2
Tuchel is not helping Bellingham. Build the team around Bellingham and thank me later
Suwcdenpst
4
The same Bellingham that English pundits were requesting Rogers ahead of him. Bellingham deserves apology from y'all
Fomaikmrsz
2
where are the useless English media, tuchel should have listen to them and let's see what happens