Thomas Tuchel is already quite taken with Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly, but he emphasizes that England needs to improve following their initial victory.

In his first outing as England manager, Thomas Tuchel has made it clear that while a victory was secured, there is still much work to be done. The German tactician, who is contracted until the conclusion of the 2026 World Cup, was not one to shower his team with accolades following the match.

“We can do better, we have to do better,” Tuchel stated emphatically during an interview with ITV. “We started well, enjoying seven or eight minutes of complete ball possession, filled with numerous passes and high energy. However, the opponent proved difficult to break down, defending in a deep block. In the Euros, they managed to avoid conceding chances.”

As the game progressed into the second half, Tuchel expressed concern over the team’s tempo. “I felt we were too slow and, in general, there weren’t enough runs off the ball to penetrate their defensive line,” he noted.

On a brighter note, Tuchel was full of praise for young Lewis-Skelly, who made a sensational debut by scoring just 20 minutes into the match. The Arsenal prodigy set the tone for Tuchel’s reign, and the manager couldn’t help but rave about him. “Amazing player. Amazing personality. He came into camp and showed straight away that it’s normal to fall in love with him. It is well deserved,” Tuchel remarked.

Tuchel also highlighted the contributions of Jude Bellingham, who assisted the opening goal, calling him a “key player.” However, he felt that England’s play in wide areas lacked the necessary edge. “We hope for more impact in these positions,” he added. “More dribbling and more aggressive runs towards the box. In general, that was missing. The chances come from those little runs behind the line, and there was a bit missing; they were not as decisive as they can be.”

Declan Rice, who plays alongside Lewis-Skelly at Arsenal, was equally impressed with the teenager’s fearless approach to international football. “He does everything right off the pitch and he is only 18,” Rice said. “I knew he was going to play like that tonight because of the confidence he has. He has kept his feet on the ground, and it is only the start for him.”

Looking ahead, England will face Latvia in their next World Cup qualifying match at Wembley on Monday, and Tuchel will be hoping for a more polished performance from his side.