Bellingham-Tuchel saga ´a storm in a teacup´, says former Blues defender Davies

Jude Bellingham’s ongoing saga with England boss Thomas Tuchel is merely “a storm in a teacup”, according to former Birmingham City defender Curtis Davies.

The Real Madrid midfielder’s role in the Three Lions’ squad has become the subject of widespread speculation in recent times.

Bellingham was left out by Thomas Tuchel for the October internationals, having only just recovered from a shoulder injury sustained earlier in the season.

The 22-year-old was recalled for last week’s World Cup qualifiers, coming off the bench against Serbia before returning to the starting line-up against Albania.

However, Bellingham’s reaction to getting substituted in the latter led to Tuchel warning him he must “accept and respect” his decisions.

The England coach has also previously described his on-field behaviour as “repulsive”, leading to the belief that there is a rift between the pair.

Yet Davies, who played for Birmingham while Bellingham was coming through the club’s academy between 2011 and 2013, thinks the media have blown the situation out of proportion.

“I think it’s a storm in a teacup,” he told Stats Perform. “Because England have done well and there’s been no failure for the England national team, there needs to be a story, and I think Jude Bellingham’s a story.

“We spoke about him being left out of the last squad. He was injured. He was coming back from a shoulder injury and had played about two games, so ultimately, I think it’s all media talk.

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“What he did coming off the pitch, I’ve seen so many players on a Saturday having played, having watched games, that when their number goes up: “Oh, I don’t want to come off!”

“It’s just natural, he’s a born winner, he wants to be on that pitch. In my opinion, England and any team are a better team with Jude Bellingham in it.”

Davies also spoke about former club Aston Villa, for whom he made 66 appearances between 2007 and 2011, while praising the impact of head coach Unai Emery, whose side sit sixth in the Premier League table ahead of facing Leeds United this weekend.

“They’ve been able to be there or thereabouts [around the Champions League places] over the few seasons,” Davies added. “They’re a team that you enjoy going to see. It’s not like they’re grinding out results or they’ve had loads of money to spend.

“[Emery’s] done an amazing job. I think he knows that, at Aston Villa, he’s got a fan group that love him. He’s got players there that want to play for him and enjoy his style.

“He’s very intense, I’ve been told, but he’s getting the best out of them, and I think after a bit of a sticky start to the season, Villa are starting to come good.”