"Nothing we can't handle!" — Tuchel and Henderson issue rally as England prepare for Mexico

[0:00] Thomas, you said you were very much looking forward to coming to Mexico City. [0:05] What have you made of it so far, especially the welcome and the altitude? [0:10] And what kind of game do you think it will be tomorrow? [0:14] It's even nicer than I expected. [0:16] It just catches you straight away once we landed here and saw the excitement [0:21] and saw the emotions and the commitment of all people for the World Cup. [0:25] Then we basically I felt straight away that this will be a proper World Cup match tomorrow. [0:31] We knew it before. [0:33] We are in an iconic place, iconic stadium, a massive, massive game, [0:38] knockout game against Mexico in in Azteca. [0:43] It's just iconic match and a big stage and we feel it. [0:49] People were very friendly, very respectful, very emotional. [0:53] Of course, they will support their home team tomorrow. [0:57] That's that's absolutely normal. [1:00] We had an amazing training facility today. [1:03] Beautiful environment, very calm on the highest level. [1:08] And so players are kind of adapted. [1:12] We know about you know about the situation. [1:14] We spoke about it that. [1:17] But yeah, we will take care of what needs to take care of. [1:22] And we need a strong performance and I think we will have one. [1:27] Go over here on the right side. [1:29] Thank you. [1:30] Good afternoon, coach Carlos Daniel Salgado from TV Azteca. [1:33] 40 years ago, England played here and you went through a difficult chapter in your history [1:39] when they lost against Argentina. [1:42] And that's something that the world of football hasn't forgotten. [1:46] Is that part of the speech? [1:47] Is that something that motivates the players and yourself? [1:52] Well, I think like everyone who everyone remembers the goal and everyone, of course, [1:58] it's an iconic goal, two iconic goals in the stadium in the huge disadvantage for the English team. [2:06] And of course, it is this is painful and still hurts, but we are not here for revenge. [2:13] It doesn't make sense. [2:14] It's the same it's the same stadium. [2:17] It's the it's not the same opponent. [2:19] And even then, it doesn't doesn't make sense. [2:21] We are here to write our own chapters. [2:24] The team is ready. [2:25] We are in good spirits and we are ready to go for tomorrow. [2:29] Good friend right here. [2:30] Hi, Jordan, here, Rodrigo Lara, TNT Sports Mexico question for both. [2:35] Have you spoke with Gary Lineker about his time playing here? [2:40] Any tips, any recommendations ahead of tomorrow's game? [2:44] And what can you tell me about your experience? [2:47] Also training in La Cantera de los Pumas just today? [2:51] No, I haven't spoke with Gary Lineker, first of all. [2:55] But the training facility that we've just been to is like the Gaffer just said there was top. [3:01] Really enjoyed a high level, really good training session. [3:06] I think it was good that we came in a little bit earlier just to get used to the the attitude [3:12] and things like that, so the players can feel that before the game tomorrow. [3:15] So, yeah, very good. [3:16] Good training session, great facility. [3:19] And the people like the Gaffer said have been brilliant with us since we've arrived. [3:22] Okay, Henry. [3:25] Jordan, hi, Henry Winter, World Soccer. [3:27] Good luck tomorrow. [3:28] Jordan, you've been a fighter all your life, all your career. [3:31] You relish occasions like this. [3:32] You face diversity. [3:34] You've lifted trophies. [3:35] Presumably you and the players are inspired by an occasion like this. [3:40] Yeah, definitely. [3:42] I think it's a huge, huge occasion. [3:46] It doesn't get much better or bigger than playing Mexico and Mexico City in this stadium. [3:52] Yeah, no words, really. [3:54] It's just an incredible occasion for everyone. [3:58] And for us as a team, it's about staying focused on what our objective is. [4:02] And that's to come here and win the game. [4:04] Of course, that comes with challenges. [4:06] You know, Mexico are a very good side with very good players. [4:10] It'll be a really tough test. [4:11] But every game in the World Cup is difficult. [4:14] And, yeah, everybody's just looking forward to come and play this game for tomorrow. [4:20] And I hope it brings the best out of us. [4:22] And if it does, then I'm sure we can get a good result. [4:25] Okay, throw it right here. [4:27] Thank you. [4:28] Hi, coach here. [4:30] Jordan, good morning. [4:31] Jose Andres Díaz from Diario Evasiones. [4:33] Coach, which is your knowledge about the Mexican national team? [4:38] What could you tell us about the Mexican national team? [4:41] And coach, is it true that you guys are considering using [4:46] Viagra to contrast or mitigate the effects of the altitude? [4:50] That's information that came along. [4:52] So I wanted to ask you if that's really true, that information. [4:56] Thank you, coach. [4:58] The information and the support didn't reach me. [5:00] So that is not true. [5:04] And we know everything about the Mexican team since they have. [5:09] I think they're now in the top ten even in the world in the ranking. [5:13] They have some some good results in the last matches, [5:18] not only now in the World Cup, but especially since March, [5:21] where they played Belgium, where they played in Portugal, like top tier nations. [5:26] We saw all these matches. [5:28] We analyzed all these matches. [5:29] They're very flexible in their approach. [5:31] They change their defensive formations in the match [5:36] from high pressure to low pressure. [5:38] They do this very fluently when they attack. [5:41] They play their attack normally with a lot of players in the middle of the pitch. [5:46] Like they bring their wingers, love to bring their wingers inside. [5:50] Have a lot of rotations that we are aware of. [5:54] You are never shy to play directly into Jimenez and start the attacks from there. [5:58] So I think we are prepared. [6:01] We saw the strengths. [6:02] We try to exploit weaknesses like always, but we are full of respect. [6:07] But we also believe in us. [6:10] If we analyze Mexico, we are fully aware that we need to. [6:13] We need to put a strong performance together. [6:16] We need to be the best version of offensively and defensively [6:20] that we showed until now in moments of every match. [6:24] But tomorrow we will bring it together for top performance [6:28] that we need to to achieve our goal to to beat Mexico. [6:33] Hi, both. [6:34] Good luck tomorrow. [6:35] Aisha Gulati from Haters TV. [6:38] Jordan, this is your fourth World Cup, which is an incredible achievement. [6:41] I wondered how you would say, well, what has changed the most in that time, [6:47] especially around fan expectations, which seem higher than ever [6:51] and how that affects the team? [6:55] Yeah, I would suppose that's probably the [6:58] the biggest thing that's changed when I first made the first World Cup was 2014 [7:04] in Brazil compared to now. [7:08] The expectation is a lot different. [7:09] I would I would say definitely. [7:11] I think 2018 was in Russia was a good year for us to get to the semifinal. [7:16] I don't think many people expected that. [7:17] And I felt that brought the team and the nation closer together in that period. [7:22] And then from then, I think we've built on that. [7:25] We've went from strength to strength, managed to get [7:28] in the two European finals, not managed to get over the line. [7:32] But you can see the lads and the culture [7:36] and everything was growing and getting bigger. [7:38] And the connection with the fans has just been getting stronger and stronger. [7:43] And again, I think this World Cup shows that connection with the fans. [7:47] You know, singing after the game the other day was such an amazing moment for [7:51] for all of us, you know, even me, who've who's played a lot of games. [7:55] You know, it's a special moment that we'll remember forever. [7:58] And that's what the World Cup's all about, is creating special moments. [8:01] And hopefully we can create another special moment tomorrow. [8:04] OK, over here on the left. [8:07] Hi, Thomas. [8:08] It's Anita Jones from Supersport. [8:10] I don't know what your Spanish is like, but there's a Mexican fan chant that says [8:15] Inglaterra va a probar el Chile Nacional and loosely translated. [8:20] It says England's going to taste Mexico's national heat. [8:25] I guess playing on the fact that they've got really hot chilies over here [8:27] and that intense environment that we can expect at Azteca Stadium. [8:32] Have you seen enough from your players today to suggest that [8:37] they can handle the hostile environment that we'll expect that we'll all expect tomorrow? [8:43] And maybe the one that doesn't expect it to be hostile. [8:46] I think it will be emotional and it will be full of support for the home nation. [8:51] But but I didn't expect any hostility so far. [8:55] Everyone was very respectful. [8:57] Everyone was was actually cheering for our players like in front of the hotel. [9:01] We don't expect that tomorrow, but I don't expect per se a hostile environment [9:08] that a stadium like this, like not a lot of stadiums can create an atmosphere [9:13] to the advantage of the home team, that the stadium can create momentum [9:18] and and and and and believe in the home team. [9:22] This is something we come up against and and we expect it. [9:25] But we have very experienced players who play in the toughest leagues [9:29] and the biggest clubs in the world. [9:31] We all know these games from Champions League matches, from from from intense matches [9:36] in our leagues where you play up against the against the energy of a stadium [9:41] and that we are prepared for that. [9:43] We are prepared for strong start of of of the Mexican team. [9:48] They will like I guess they will they will try to give us a taste of intensity [9:53] and of the heat that you were referring to. [9:55] Yeah, but we we will have answers to that. [9:58] We need to find answers. [10:00] And right now is it's a key element of our team that we are ready [10:04] that we are able to find answers to any questions [10:08] and and I am full of trust that we will do the same tomorrow. [10:13] Hey, good evening. [10:15] Thomas Tuchel here. [10:16] Joshua Sandoval from Fox Sports Mexico. [10:19] A question because we saw many times Jordan Pickford with a portal written the you know, [10:27] the size that the penalty kickers, well, choose a side. [10:32] You know pretty well Raul Jimenez. [10:34] But my question is about the other Mexican players. [10:38] Do you know everything about them? [10:41] Also the the size that used to pick for the penalties and if we're going to see that [10:48] mythic bottle from Pickford, we know everything. [10:53] We know everything from every player. [10:55] Goalkeepers are prepared if it goes to penalties. [10:58] We know we know what's going to happen. [11:01] Goalkeepers need to be prepared. [11:03] Opponents goalkeepers will also be prepared. [11:06] It's just how modern football is. [11:08] Everyone knows everything because everything is available [11:12] in analysing. [11:13] So, yeah, we are prepared for every moment of the match. [11:18] Hi, Thomas. [11:19] Simon Peet from the Press Association. [11:21] Good luck tomorrow. [11:23] Just wanted to ask about the kick-off confusion yesterday, [11:26] how that experience was for you and whether it was a distraction. [11:29] And secondly, what's the situation with Rhys James and Gerald Kwanza? [11:33] Well, you saw Jarrell trained. [11:35] Jarrell trained full and is fully available. [11:38] Rhys can maybe make it on the bench, [11:41] but we need a last assessment from the doctors and medical opinion, [11:48] if this makes sense. [11:52] And the confusion about the kick-off was a bit of a confusion, [11:55] but I think only for me and for the officials. [11:57] I'm not sure if the team was even aware. [12:00] We kept it away from the players completely. [12:04] And, yeah, as soon as we landed, so it was a bit of a confusion [12:08] in the last hour before we started. [12:10] But as soon as we landed, everything was solved. [12:13] It was a good moment to be in the air for three and a half hours. [12:16] I have a question for Jordan. [12:21] Yourself and obviously a lot of the members of the squad have achieved [12:24] lots in their careers, won trophies, played in big games. [12:30] But the size of the task tomorrow, given the challenges with the conditions [12:33] and the crowd and maybe other factors, where would that rank, do you think, [12:37] in terms of the challenges that you faced in your career? [12:42] Yeah, very high on the list, I would say, definitely. [12:47] World Cup game, like I said, playing Mexico in Mexico City, [12:50] it doesn't get much bigger than that. [12:52] A lot of different challenges that come with that. [12:54] But for us, we just can only focus on what we can control and what's in our power, [12:58] and that's to perform to the best of our ability tomorrow. [13:02] And I think we need to be at our very, very best to get a good result. [13:07] But I feel like the lads are ready. [13:09] We've had a really good training session here this afternoon. [13:12] I feel like the atmosphere and the energy is good, [13:14] but I can still I can feel the focus now for the for the game tomorrow. [13:18] But it's a huge occasion for everyone. [13:20] And I'm confident that we can show our best version of ourselves. [13:25] And if we can do that, then hopefully we can we can get a good result in the middle here. [13:29] Hello coach here. [13:32] Federico Olvera from Damegola.net Mexico City and coach Federico Olvera [13:39] of the Ciudad de Mexico. [13:41] What can I share and not so much? [13:54] I just what I can share is like I can just agree with Jordan that as soon as we arrive, [14:01] we arrive one day before you change the country, you fly into another home country, [14:06] you feel the energy of the place. [14:08] You land in Mexico City and straight away you see the people on the side of the streets [14:13] getting a glimpse of the bus. [14:15] You see the people in front of the hotel. [14:18] You see the player. [14:19] It's just a different animal of game. [14:24] It just makes you sharper. [14:27] It just brings the best out. [14:28] It makes you feel alive. [14:29] All of us see the players today in training focus is just on the highest level. [14:35] Every little detail is on the highest level. [14:37] Like you feel the excitement in the eyes. [14:39] Everyone is like trying and push wants to start tomorrow. [14:42] You feel the excitement. [14:43] It's just a it's just a it's just a next level setting. [14:47] And we are very well well aware what what we are facing tomorrow. [14:51] I told you they are. [14:52] We try to find solutions, of course, on the pitch. [14:55] I think we have still room to grow in our offensive game and our defensive game [15:01] to pick our moments better, to be a bit more compact, to worship our time, [15:05] like to to be better timings in in attacking. [15:08] But overall, I think we're in a good place. [15:10] And I think we are very, very close to putting it all together for a win tomorrow. [15:19] This is your first World Cup as an England manager. [15:22] Looking back at the tournament so far, [15:24] how would you describe this experience and what has challenged you the most? [15:30] It's an unbelievable experience, to be honest. [15:34] We are like or I am kind living in a bubble, doing doing what I love the most on a daily matter, [15:40] having having these amazing players around me that I selected, being so grateful for it, [15:45] have these amazing characters, these amazing players every day around me, feeling the energy, [15:50] planning training, seeing training, analyzing training, trying and helping and support and [15:56] then going through the matches, going out of the bubble, going to a venue, seeing all the excitement, [16:03] see the England fans, see them sing, see the connection between the team and the fans. [16:08] So then you go back into your bubble and you prepare the next match. [16:11] It's just a very unique experience. [16:14] And then you step out in a venue like this just now before and you know that you're in such an iconic [16:21] place and you have the chance to be part of it. [16:23] I'm very grateful for that. [16:25] It makes me feel very alive. [16:28] It hopefully brings out the best in myself because I want to live up to the expectations that I have [16:34] for myself and the trust that everyone puts in me. [16:37] But I think we are there and it's a fantastic experience. [16:44] Hi, good evening. [16:45] Mr. Tuchel here, Jordan. [16:50] My question is in Spanish. [16:55] Thanks. [16:55] Hello. [16:58] This is the interpreter speaking. [16:59] Can you hear me? [17:01] So tomorrow's match will be one of the most historic matches in the history of Mexican [17:08] football. [17:09] So I would like to ask you if you could compare tomorrow's match with any match that you have [17:18] had to face in the major football leagues in Bundesliga or in the premium league or in the [17:26] Champions League or any other continental competition like the Champions League. [17:33] Do you think you could compare tomorrow's match with any match that you have ever had [17:38] before when you face Mexico in this stadium? [17:42] No, I don't think this game compares with any game that I've been involved in, to be honest. [17:54] Yes, I've played in high level big games in Champions League, but in a World Cup in Mexico against Mexico, I don't think anything compares with that. [18:08] So that's why it's such a big game and such a special game to be involved in. [18:12] And yeah, I think everybody's just excited and really looking forward to taking on the challenge. [18:17] Hi, question for Thomas, it's Mike Keegan here from the Daily Mail. [18:23] You had your first training session today at altitude. [18:26] I just wondered how that went and how you thought the players dealt with it? [18:31] You know what, we feel it. [18:32] We feel it even if we don't train. [18:34] I felt, for example, a slight headache and in the hotel room through the day, [18:39] didn't sleep as well as the days before, but nothing that you cannot handle and you cannot adapt. [18:46] I think the players felt it in the first minutes of the training session and the longer it went, [18:53] they could cope with it better. [18:58] It's just what it is. [19:00] We cannot physically adapt. [19:01] It's just impossible. [19:03] But we are here one day before to experience it at least, [19:06] to not have all the first time experience tomorrow in warm-up. [19:09] So we will have tomorrow's warm-up, especially with a flight of the ball, with a bit of short of breath. [19:15] I think it's not a coincidence that Mexico starts their matches normally at home turf, [19:22] very, very strong, very front-footed, very aggressively, [19:26] because I think the first 15-20 minutes will be maybe the toughest for us. [19:31] Once we overcome that and we experienced a little bit already today, [19:35] I think we are in a good place. [19:38] James in the middle here. [19:40] Hi, Thomas. [19:41] James Ory from ESPN. [19:43] Good luck tomorrow. [19:43] Thank you. [19:44] Just following on from that really, there's been a lot of talk about the altitude, [19:48] the kick-off time, the weather, the team hotel, and if you're going to get some sleep tonight. [19:53] I mean, could you just talk about how complicated this preparation has been? [19:57] Have you ever known anything quite like this in the build-up to a game? [20:00] Yeah, but it's like so often, it's so much noise when you're inside of the bubble, it's actually [20:07] quite calm, quite focused. And that's even like the bigger the noises, the bigger the stages, [20:12] the bigger the tension becomes, the calmer is the preparation. Like I said, I think the players [20:17] were not even aware that there was a possible change of kick-offs. And just this example just [20:23] shows you to not lose your head. We cannot influence it. So three and a half hours later, [20:29] you land in Mexico and kick-off time stayed the same. So it's just not worth losing our head. [20:35] Altitude, it is what it is. Home crowd, it is what it is. It's not in our favor. We need to overcome [20:42] obstacles, but we have the spirit, we have the commitment, we have the pure will and the glue [20:49] between the team to overcome these things. That's why I'm positive. We know what's coming. The [20:56] players will feel it. We will all feel it tomorrow when the energy is on. But that's also the beauty [21:02] of it. And we focus completely on what is possible to be influenced by us. [21:11] Thank you very much, Angel Riccardi for Grupo Formula. Thank you for your time. [21:18] Just following up on the last two couple of questions, if you don't mind, but this time for [21:22] Jordan. A lot of English press has been talking about this issue as well, characterizing it as [21:29] an unfair advantage. I just like to ask, if you feel it that way, Jordan, is it an unfair advantage? [21:34] Is that how you're taking it? Or how is the squad taking this particular situation of the altitude [21:40] in the scenario where you're going to play tomorrow? Thank you. Well, the Viagra helps. [21:45] I'm joking. It's a joke. [21:53] I think the gaff is spot on, really. I think as players, we're very adaptable, really, [21:58] and just get on with things like kickoff time yesterday, whether we play at 12, whether we play [22:03] at six, doesn't really bother us. We just come here to do our job. And that's the best version of [22:10] ourselves to be together, to compete, to give everything for each other. And the nation back [22:14] home to make them proud and to try and win a football game. Everything that we can't influence, [22:21] like kickoff times or altitude or stuff at the hotel is not in our control. So we just have to [22:30] find solutions, which we're pretty good at and the staff are pretty good at. So for us, it's about [22:38] full focus on our job ahead. No excuses. We're ready to go and we want to come here and be the best [22:45] version. Like I keep seeing the best version of ourselves tomorrow. And if we do that, [22:50] then we'll have a good chance of winning. Okay, here in the front row. Thank you. [22:53] Hi, Jordan. It's Andy Kerr from BN Sports. Jordan, can I just expand a tiny bit on that sort of one? [23:01] Now you've trained here, does it actually feel any different to you at altitude? Can you feel the [23:05] difference? And will you have to approach the game, play the game slightly differently? [23:11] You can feel it a little bit. You can feel something. You felt it a little bit, even when [23:16] you just land and you come to the hotel and you're just walking around, you can feel something. And then [23:21] today in training, for me personally, I felt that maybe in the first 10, 15 minutes and then [23:28] once training got going, I stopped thinking about it so much and just concentrated on training. So [23:35] hopefully when the game comes tomorrow, the lads once they've done the warm up and they've got [23:41] going, hopefully once the game starts, then the full focus is just on the game and that's all the [23:46] focus is on. Good evening. Good luck from Xinhua News Agency from China. And my question is, [23:54] could you, my question is to Thomas, could you tell us about more details about your hotel stay? [24:01] And would you guys worry about night sleeping? We had no issues tonight. And I expect like, [24:09] like I said, I think FIFA took care of the situation and we have security around the hotel. [24:16] So we expect a good night of sleep. We have six o'clock kickoff. So if we miss some hours of sleep, [24:23] we will, we will, we will have time, uh, to, to get some other hours in, in, in the, in the late, [24:30] in the late morning. Uh, I don't want to talk about problems that don't exist yet. So it's just like, [24:37] it's, it's, it's, it just feels not right. And I just, like what I experienced until now was very [24:43] respectful and, uh, was very emotional, but also very supportive towards, towards our team. So we are [24:50] very respectful to everyone. Uh, we expect of, we respect, uh, the opponent. We expect the, the, [24:56] the occasion of the match. We, and then we expect to also be treated with respect. And it was, [25:01] that was, uh, that was the case. So to talk now about potential problems just does not make sense [25:08] to me. Um, if they come, we will, we will, uh, accept them. That's the whole approach for the whole [25:14] tournament. It's a, it's a demanding tournament in itself. And the best way to approach it is to be [25:20] relaxed and calm and, and focus on us.