Butt was equally puzzled by Tuchel’s handling of Kobbie Mainoo, questioning why the United youngster has barely featured. He argued that introducing Jordan Henderson ahead of Mainoo reflected a lack of trust in England’s defence and limited the team’s attacking ambition.
“The big one I don’t understand is why he isn’t getting Kobbie Mainoo to come on in any way,” Butt said. “I just don’t get it. He’s not even giving him three minutes. He put Jordan Henderson on before him – there’s something fundamentally wrong there.
“It’s glaring that Tuchel doesn’t trust his back four, that’s why he’s playing with two sitting players like that. It’s crazy against a team like Congo. I think that’s where Kobbie Mainoo should come in and play. Against some of these teams – Ghana, Panama, Congo – he should’ve come in.”
Butt also questioned the midfield partnership of Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson, suggesting it lacks creativity. He claimed Rice was not fully fit and criticised Anderson for playing too safely and failing to progress the ball effectively.
He added: “Thomas Tuchel put our best midfielder, probably one of the best in Europe last season, to be right back because it’s such a glaring problem. Regardless of that, Declan Rice has definitely got an injury. There’s no way he’s fully fit so I don’t get why he just didn’t take him off, rested him – he’s got bigger games coming up.
“Elliot Anderson has not been that good and he wasn’t good against DR Congo. He’s stuttered a bit, he’s going too deep, he’s getting the ball in the wrong area, he’s not progressive enough, he doesn’t break the lines enough.”
