The 10 Has a New Power: Bellingham’s Balancing Act Between Tuchel and Alonso

The Ego War Between Bellingham and Tuchel

In modern football, the debate is no longer confined to the pitch; personalities, influence, media glare, and the nature of coach-player relationships all craft crises that rival the tactical plan itself. Jude Bellingham, Real Madrid’s rising star, finds this clash unfolding in parallel between England’s national team under Thomas Tuchel and Real Madrid under Xabi Alonso, with different contexts but a similar core issue.

From the moment Tuchel publicly stated that "England will not play with Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, and Phil Foden together," it was clear he intended to send a message that no one is immune to his decisions, even the best English talent of his generation.

That message became vivid on Wembley night against Serbia, when Bellingham sat on the bench for over an hour while Tuchel placed his trust in Morgan Rogers of Aston Villa to start at number 10.

On paper it looked like a routine rotation or minutes management, but the details reveal a deeper struggle.

Tuchel, known for his confrontational style, wants to reshape the England squad to his standards: a strict system, defined roles, and players subservient to the structure rather than star power. The shock wasn’t just the benching; it was how he defended the decision.

He argued that Rogers deserved to stay because performance is the primary criterion, and that a shift in pressing style and tactical evolution makes thrusting Bellingham straight into the heart of the team “unfair.”

Here lies Bellingham’s central clash with Tuchel: the player seeks to be the main focal point, while the coach seeks to be the sole anchor.

Tuchel doesn’t hand leadership roles easily; he isn’t fond of players with outsized influence or halos that disrupt the balance. His track record—from Aubameyang to Lukaku to Neymar—reads like a cautionary tale about stars clashing with a manager determined to keep the machine humming.

Paradoxically, Bellingham didn’t look out of place when he came on; he seemed more present than Rogers in their brief minutes, and he helped build the second goal. Still, Tuchel showed little willingness to bend his plan, using the match as an assertion of authority more than a performance test.

And before closing Bellingham’s Wembley dossier, another detail stands out: the English media. A chunk of the punditry criticized Bellingham at once, amplifying the event rather than dissecting nuance.

Yet amid the din, a calmer interpretation emerged: the game was experimental, the stakes relatively low, and the decision not necessarily a declaration of war. Tuchel’s message was specific: “the rules here differ from Madrid.”

From England to Madrid… A Tale Repeated in Another Face

Since the season began, rumors have persisted that Bellingham hasn’t entirely embraced Xabi Alonso’s new Real Madrid style, chiefly because high pressing and relentless off-ball work do not always appeal to big stars.

Bellingham craves freedom, progression, and the sense that he is the principal attacking force. But in Madrid’s version—built on dynamic pressing, constant movement, and aggressive ball recovery—luxury play is scarce.

Alonso, like Tuchel, wants a team anchored in collective rhythm rather than individual star power, so Bellingham’s situation in Madrid mirrors his position with England in some ways.

Neither coach grants him absolute space, and the player isn’t fully eager to abandon his preferred role.

In Madrid the situation is even more complex: injuries, a changed role, and a galaxy of stars—Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior, and others—have squeezed his impact. Reports suggest some teammates, including Bellingham, resist the intensified pressing demanded by Alonso, and the new discipline makes them less comfortable.

Yet there’s a key distinction: in Madrid, Bellingham remains a cornerstone, even with Arda Güler’s rise, while Alonso fights to fit them together. In England, Bellingham is acutely aware that his place isn’t guaranteed.

Common Ground

Both sides want Bellingham to be England’s model player and the generation’s leader, but Tuchel and Alonso, with their systems-first philosophies, remind us that influence and fame don’t automatically guarantee a role, and a heavy media aura cannot substitute for tactical duties.

Tuchel’s insistence on discipline might be justified after a series of experiments under Gareth Southgate suggested England’s new generation needs stricter structure.

Alonso’s pursuit of a more balanced defense and attack is valid, but the truth remains: Bellingham is navigating a delicate transition from “free star” to “piece in a system.” If he adapts, he could soon captain England and Real Madrid; if not, these clashes may simply mark early chapters in a larger saga.

Ultimately, success could turn him into a dual-captain archetype; failure would rewrite these pages as mere footnotes in a longer epic.

Punchline: If leadership were a jersey, Bellingham would need a bigger back for all those captain badges.

Punchline: In this power struggle, the only thing heavier than the pressure on Jude is the internet’s opinion—some debates deserve a VAR for clarity.