England manager Thomas Tuchel is reportedly demanding more from Bukayo Saka after the Arsenal winger produced a relatively quiet performance in England’s recent UEFA Nations League clash with Spain.
Saka started the match at Wembley as England faced the reigning world champions, but he was unable to make the decisive attacking contribution many supporters have come to expect from him. England eventually suffered a 3-2 defeat despite taking a 2-1 lead into half-time.
The 25-year-old winger completed 83 minutes against Spain but finished the match without scoring or assisting. His performance came after a mixed start to the 2026/27 season at club level, although he has still produced important moments for Arsenal, including goals against Sunderland and Aston Villa.
Tuchel is understood to expect greater consistency from Saka because of the important role he has within the England team. The German coach has previously made it clear that every player must contribute to the team’s overall performance rather than relying solely on individual reputation.
Saka’s importance to England is not in question. During the 2026 World Cup, he scored a hat-trick in England’s 6-4 victory over France in the third-place play-off. He also made an impact as a substitute against Norway and contributed an assist against Mexico.
However, the Spain match presented a different challenge. England struggled to create enough clear opportunities after taking the lead, while Spain recovered strongly in the second half. Tuchel acknowledged after the game that England could have created more attacking opportunities and needed to turn their possession and ball recoveries into more goals.
Saka’s performance will therefore be an area to monitor as England continue their Nations League campaign. The winger remains one of the team’s most dangerous attacking players, but Tuchel’s tactical approach places significant emphasis on work rate, defensive contribution and efficiency in possession.
There is also an important context surrounding Saka’s recent international performances. The Arsenal star dealt with an Achilles problem during the World Cup and was an unused substitute during England’s semi-final defeat to Argentina. He later returned to the starting lineup for the third-place victory over France and scored three goals.
With England facing Czechia next, Saka will have another opportunity to respond on the pitch. England suffered a 3-2 defeat against Spain in their opening Nations League fixture, making the upcoming match particularly important as Tuchel looks to get his side back to winning ways.
For Saka, the challenge is simple: rediscover the attacking sharpness that has made him one of England’s key players. His ability to beat defenders, create chances and contribute goals remains crucial to Tuchel’s plans.
While there is no verified public statement showing Tuchel explicitly saying he is “not happy” with Saka’s performance, the statistics from the Spain match show that the winger did not register a goal or assist. Tuchel’s post-match comments focused on England’s need to create and convert more opportunities rather than singling Saka out individually.
The next international fixtures will reveal whether Saka can quickly return to his best form and provide the attacking influence England expect from their Arsenal star.
