England defender Djed Spence has played down a viral training-ground exchange in which manager Thomas Tuchel was seen shouting at him to “wake up” during a World Cup session.
The incident occurred at England’s training base in Kansas City ahead of the team’s Group L clash against Ghana. Video footage showed Tuchel yelling at the Tottenham full-back after he appeared slow to react during a passing drill, with the clip quickly spreading across social media.
Speaking after the session, Spence insisted there were no hard feelings and described the manager’s reaction as normal. The 25-year-old said Tuchel demands high standards from every player and wants every training session to be performed at maximum intensity.
“He wants the best from his players,” Spence said, adding that criticism is part of the game and not directed at him alone.
The defender also praised Tuchel’s leadership, saying the German coach has created a strong team spirit and a “family” atmosphere within the squad.
Tuchel’s demanding approach has become a talking point during England’s World Cup campaign, with several players highlighting his attention to detail and insistence on maintaining focus throughout training and matches.
England opened the tournament with a 4-2 victory over Croatia and can move closer to the knockout stage with a win over Ghana.
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