Thomas Tuchel has made it clear he's got no interest in 'political statements' as England prepare to face Albania at Wembley tonight.
The 51-year-old will take charge of the team for the first time, having been appointed as Gareth Southgate's permanent replacement in October.
Under Southgate, England endured the odd political headache.
One such example was at the World Cup in 2022, when players were criticised for refusing to wear the OneLove rainbow armband in Qatar - a country where same-sex relationships are illegal.
Thomas Tuchel has made it clear he's got no interest in 'political statements' as England prepare to face Albania at Wembley tonight
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Tuchel, speaking ahead of his first England match, has now made his stance on the matter clear.
He said: “I think we have the best chance [of winning matches] when you allow the head coach to focus on football.
“I understand from your perspective maybe the importance of the role.
"But maybe I can hide a little bit behind being not English and not talk to everything that happens in your country out of respect and focus a little bit more on football.”
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When quizzed further, the 51-year-old continued: “I think at some point it must be allowed for a football team that is sent to a World Cup to be a football team and not be a political statement and be a political role model for whatever it goes on, then it becomes sports-political.
“And people in the federation have to speak up, give their opinion, give a clear position, that is a clarity that helps them in the end.
"Because once these decisions are made you can endlessly debate about it because what can the players do? What can the coach do?
“They cannot be the scapegoat at the end of it and be punished for every little sentence that they say.
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Thomas Tuchel won't follow in the footsteps of Gareth Southgate when it comes to England being 'political'
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“So at some point, in this case, I would have taken my right to say ‘we can speak about football now because now we are here, if we like it or not, the tournament is here, it’s already decided, we qualified, for some of us it’s maybe the one chance in a lifetime and we want to make the best of it’.”
The OneLove issue wasn't the only political dilemma that Southgate faced.
He split opinion by backing players to 'take the knee', even when some of their own supporters booed and jeered players.
And Southgate also previously raised eyebrows by suggesting Brexit was down to 'racial overtones'.
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Tuchel is, however, happy to be head coach - rather than manager.
He said: “First of all, in my contract I named myself head coach not manager, as a first step.
“I’m very happy that John McDermott and Mark Bullingham are by my side who also take care of the FA who speak up for the interests of the FA.”
England's match with Albania is set to take place at Wembley tonight (7.45pm).
Thomas Tuchel is dreaming of trophies with England as the new boss gears up for tonight's World Cup qualifier against Albania
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It is the first meeting between the two sides since 2021.
England beat Albania 5-0 on that occasion, with Harry Kane scoring a hat-trick and Harry Maguire and Jordan Henderson also on target.
