Nicky Butt has openly questioned Thomas Tuchel’s approach following England’s unconvincing 2-1 win over DR Congo at the World Cup. The former Manchester United midfielder criticised the England manager’s squad selection, tactical rigidity, and unwillingness to adjust his methods, warning that these choices could cost the team dearly as the tournament progresses.

Butt took aim at Tuchel’s decisions after the narrow victory, expressing doubts about both his tactical setup and the balance of the 26-man squad. Speaking to Paddy Power, the ex-England player argued that Tuchel had left out key creative talents and put together a team lacking balance. He suggested that these omissions could become a major issue if England find themselves struggling in the later stages of the competition.

Explaining his concerns, Butt said that while Tuchel’s insistence on sticking to his own philosophy can be admirable, it may also be a weakness. He acknowledged that winning the tournament would silence critics but still questioned the German coach’s refusal to engage with outside perspectives.

“He does what he wants — he doesn’t care about the media or the fans. He’s just stubborn in his own way,” Butt said. “If they win it like this, no one’s going to care — he’d be knighted, he’d be a god. But it’s still a bit concerning.”

He added, “Tuchel comes across as a manager who’s stubborn and a bit arrogant, doing exactly what he wants. It’s not necessarily a bad trait — he has a plan and he’s sticking to it, ignoring the noise around him.”

Butt also criticised the composition of England’s squad, arguing that Tuchel had left out players capable of turning tight games around. “I don’t care what anyone says — the squad’s wrong,” he insisted. “Deep down, he’ll never admit it, but he’ll know he should have taken Trent Alexander-Arnold, 100%. With 15 minutes left at 0-0, he’ll have looked at the bench and wished he had a Phil Foden or a Cole Palmer there. If he doesn’t win it, he’s going to face severe criticism. I just don’t understand many of his decisions — it’s a bit of a mess.”

Butt was also baffled by Tuchel’s handling of young midfielder Kobbie Mainoo, wondering why the Manchester United prospect had barely been given any game time. He questioned Tuchel’s decision to bring on Jordan Henderson instead, suggesting it showed a lack of faith in England’s defence and curtailed attacking intent.

“The big one I don’t understand is why he isn’t giving Kobbie Mainoo any minutes,” Butt said. “He’s not even getting three minutes on the pitch. He put Jordan Henderson on before him — that’s fundamentally wrong.”

He added, “It’s obvious Tuchel doesn’t trust his back four, which is why he plays two holding midfielders. It’s crazy against a side like Congo. That’s exactly the kind of match where Kobbie Mainoo should play. Against teams like Ghana, Panama, or Congo — he should’ve been used.”

Butt also criticised the midfield partnership of Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson, arguing that it lacked creativity. He claimed Rice was clearly not fully fit and that Anderson played too cautiously, failing to move the ball forward effectively.

“Thomas Tuchel put our best midfielder, probably one of the best in Europe last season, at right-back because the position is such a glaring issue,” he said. “But Declan Rice is definitely carrying an injury. There’s no way he’s fully fit. I don’t understand why he wasn’t just taken off and rested — there are bigger games ahead.”

“Elliot Anderson hasn’t been good, and he wasn’t good against DR Congo. He’s been hesitant, dropping too deep, collecting the ball in the wrong areas, not being progressive enough, and not breaking the lines.”

Despite the criticism, England remain in the World Cup, though scrutiny over Tuchel’s choices is unlikely to ease. The Three Lions will next face Mexico in the round of 16 in Mexico City on Monday, with pressure mounting for a more convincing performance.