England boss Thomas Tuchel has addressed the topic of Jude Bellingham's on-field behavior, acknowledging the Real Madrid star's fiery passion while emphasizing the importance of channeling it effectively. Tuchel's comments come after England's 3-1 defeat to Senegal in a friendly match, a game where Bellingham's frustration was evident, particularly after a late equalizer was disallowed.

Tuchel recognizes Bellingham as a key component of the England squad, highlighting the "edge" he brings to the team. He believes that Bellingham's passion and determination are crucial for achieving significant success. However, he also stressed that this "fire" needs to be directed appropriately.

"That's basically how I feel. He has a certain something and brings an edge. It's needed if we want to achieve big things," Tuchel stated. "It needs to be channelled towards the opponent and towards our goal, and not to intimidate team-mates or be aggressive towards team-mates of opponents."

Tuchel is wary of Bellingham's passion boiling over into negativity. He wants to ensure that the player's intensity is used to motivate his teammates and put pressure on opponents, rather than creating friction within the squad or leading to unnecessary confrontations with referees. "He has the fire - I don't want to dim that, he should play with that as that's his strength. But that does bring some traits that can intimidate team-mates. Sometimes you see the explosion towards referees. That edge is hard to find," Tuchel elaborated.

Interestingly, Tuchel even shared a personal anecdote to illustrate the different perspectives on Bellingham's demeanor. He admitted that his own mother finds Bellingham's on-field behavior "repulsive" at times, particularly when she witnesses his displays of anger or frustration.

"I see this with my mother - she can sometimes not see the nice and well-educated and well-behaved guy that I see," Tuchel told Talksport. "If he smiles he wins everyone over, but sometimes you see the hunger and the rage and the fire. It can come out in a way that can be a bit repulsive for example, for my mother when she sits in front of the TV. I see that. But in general we are very happy to have him, he's a special boy."

Despite these concerns, Tuchel is adamant that Bellingham is a manageable player. He described him as "a nice kid, very open and intelligent." This suggests that Tuchel believes Bellingham is receptive to guidance and capable of understanding the need to control his emotions on the pitch.

Tuchel also touched upon Bellingham's best position, acknowledging his versatility. "From outside I thought for many years he could be a six and an eight. Then he had an amazing season as a false nine at Real Madrid. He scored and scored and created chances," Tuchel said, highlighting Bellingham's adaptability and attacking prowess. He further emphasized Bellingham's hunger and determination to score goals, qualities he usually associates with strikers.

Ultimately, Tuchel's message is clear: he values Bellingham's passion and believes it is a vital asset for England. However, he also recognizes the need to guide and channel that passion in a positive direction, ensuring that it benefits the team as a whole.