"He Is Not 100 Percent": What Thomas Tuchel Said About Bukayo Saka's Achilles Injury That Tells You Everything

Alright, Seattle, let's talk about something big unfolding on the international soccer scene. England's electric forward, Bukayo Saka, is just 24 years old, and already a World Cup veteran. But as we gear up for this World Cup cycle, his manager, Thomas Tuchel, just dropped some real talk. Saka is still not "100 percent" after an Achilles injury diagnosed way back in March while he was balling out for Arsenal in the Premier League. Tuchel is preaching patience, but when you hear the details, you gotta wonder if England's star will be truly ready for their big Group L opener against Croatia on June 17.

The Long Haul for Saka

This Achilles injury is no joke, and it’s been a persistent headache since March. Tuchel confirmed it, saying Saka "had an injury in the March camp and carried it through to his club campaign." Think about that, folks. He was playing with this for Arsenal, the Premier League champion, for months. Now, England is doing exactly what Arsenal did: managing his training time. Saka was out of Monday's practice, though he did participate on Tuesday. Tuchel was pretty clear on why: "He is at the moment not able to do every training session through the week and then play." It’s a constant tightrope walk, and you know that’s not ideal for anyone, especially not for a player expected to lead his country.

Playing Hurt, Not Scoring

Despite this injury, Saka was a regular for Arsenal, even starting and playing through the 82nd minute of the Champions League final on May 30, where Arsenal eventually lost on penalty kicks to Paris Saint-Germain. That takes serious grit, but it also shows the toll. He hasn't actually scored a goal since May 5, when he bagged the lone goal in Arsenal’s semifinal win against Atletico Madrid. Think about his incredible run in the 2022 World Cup, when he was just 21, scoring three goals in four matches to help England reach the quarterfinals. The talent is undeniable. But as Tuchel put it, "He is available for tomorrow, but he needs management to be fully, fully 100 percent, which he is not. But he is on a high level." That’s a careful line to walk, saying he's good, but also, not really. So, what's next? England has a friendly against Costa Rica on Wednesday in Orlando, and while Saka *could* compete, Tuchel hinted it might not be the smartest move. The real goal, the one everyone is watching, is that Group L opener on June 17 against Croatia. Will Saka be the explosive game-changer England needs, or will this nagging Achilles keep him from truly firing on all cylinders? We'll be glued to our screens to find out if he can shake off the rust and hit that "high level" when it truly counts.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.