Arsenal winger Eberechi Eze missed a crucial spot-kick in the Champions League final penalty shoot-out as his club fell to Paris Saint-Germain.
Manager Mikel Arteta was seen on the pitch consoling Eze following the gut-wrenching defeat, highlighting how deeply the miss affected the squad.
England boss Thomas Tuchel has now promised that both he and his players will “take care” of Eze when the Arsenal contingent joins up with the national side.
Eze, Bukayo Saka, Noni Madueke, and Declan Rice were all granted additional time away from international duty to recover mentally and physically after the final.
The quartet are now travelling to West Palm Beach, where England are training at the Palm Beach Gardens Tennis and Pickleball Centre ahead of their upcoming fixtures.
The four players are unlikely to feature in England’s opening friendly against New Zealand, which takes place 220 miles away in Tampa.
Tuchel has arranged for them to access recordings of team meetings held this week, ensuring they remain fully integrated despite their delayed arrival.
Tuchel said: “Of course it’s painful for Ebs but of course I will take care of it, the group will take care of him and I think the extra week they had will help a lot.”
The England manager was also keen to remind the Arsenal players of the broader success they enjoyed this season, having won their first league title in 22 years.
Tuchel added: “I’m very happy that they got the title in England. I think that took a lot of weight off their shoulders and they were aware they did what they could and they were very close in the final.”
He drew on personal experience to put the penalty defeat into perspective, noting how fine the margins are at this level of football.
Tuchel continued: “I have lost some finals in a penalty shoot-out and it’s the closest way to lose and it hurts of course, it hurts a lot to lose big finals but a penalty means you did everything right, it couldn’t be closer.”
He also pointed to the quality of the opposition as further reason for Arsenal’s players to hold their heads high after the final.
“But it also means you were absolutely on the same level with maybe the best team in the world at the moment,” Tuchel said.
While away, Saka attended a premiere of a new documentary about him in New York, which Eze also attended, while Rice shared photographs spending time with Hollywood friend James Corden.
Tuchel confirmed he has already been in contact with some of the Arsenal players and expects them to arrive in positive spirits.
Tuchel said: “I saw pictures and I heard messages already that they’re happy to come, the group is waiting. We’re in good spirits, so this is normally what helps.”
He also made clear there is no reason for the Arsenal players to carry any disappointment into England’s World Cup campaign.
“I could feel that it makes them proud, and took a weight off their shoulders and I think there is no need to be overly disappointed and to carry it into the World Cup campaign. I don’t see that,” Tuchel concluded.
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