Jose Mourinho would start Jack Grealish in a number ten role behind Harry Kane tonight – and bring Jude Bellingham into the England XI.
The Three Lions have been widely criticised following a disappointing showing against Scotland last Friday, where the Tartan Army arguably had the better of the chances in the Group D stalemate at Wembley.
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The goalless draw was enough for England to qualify for the last 16, though, having won their opening game against Croatia.
Mourinho, speaking to talkSPORT’s Breakfast show on Tuesday, reckons England should now ‘go for the jugular’ against the Czech Republic with qualification secured.
And, with Mason Mount a doubt having self-isolate as a precaution after coming into close contact with Scotland’s Billy Gilmour, he feels it’s time for Gareth Southgate to unleash Grealish alongside Borussia Dortmund sensation Bellingham in midfield.
“Before the first game [against Croatia] I was saying Grealish, Bellingham but I totally agreed when Gareth didn’t pick them because it’s the first game, lots of pressure and the way Croatia play,” Mourinho began.
“But I believe in this nature of match it is better to have Bellingham than to have Rice and Phillips at the same time. Both are playing well but England now needs something different.
“When a team lacks confidence, is playing with fears and caution, you have to play the one that doesn’t hide and the one that doesn’t hide is Grealish. He can make his mistakes, he can lose the ball but he doesn’t hide.
“He wants the ball. I don’t know if he vocally says ‘give me the ball’ but if he doesn’t he does it by body language. Against Scotland, in the last ten minutes he got two or three free-kicks, he got the team up, he tried, he got kicked, he created stability.
“I believe in this moment England need something like that. If Mount is out it’s easy, you play Grealish as a number ten. Give him the freedom to go to the sides, especially to the left but give him the freedom to go next to Harry too.
“I would play Grealish behind Harry and Bellingham in midfield. It’s a difficult decision because it is not easy for us coaches to leave out players you are happy with but between Rice and Phillips, one that has to stay out is probably Phillips. So Rice, Bellingham and Grealish.
“Kane needs to play in his normal position and on the two sides one of Sterling or Rashford, if not both. England needs to scare a little bit and not to let defensive position lines feel very comfortable, because everything happens in their face and nothing is happening behind their shoulders.”
There have been calls for England to leave out Harry Kane after he struggled to make any mark against Croatia and Scotland, although Southgate has declared he will start.
Mourinho has defended the striker – who he managed at Tottenham last season – as he said Kane is playing in a different system than he is used to and needs more creativity and support around him.
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“The best thing for a player is when he is lucky enough to play in a national team with very, very similar routines and dynamic that a player has at a club,” Mourinho said when asked about Kane’s struggles.
“As an example for a defender, if he plays with three at the back, the best thing is to go to national team and be exactly the same.
“In this case, the way England are trying to play there are no transfers of dynamic from club to national team.
“The way Harry is playing is not similar to what he does at Tottenham.
“Foden open on the right is a little bit more of the same. Mason Mount is much more now an eight than a ten. The players are not having this situation that OK, it is easy for me because we change the shirt and we have the same dynamic.
“In Harry’s case, the team is not reaching him. When he drops they need to find him, when he drops they need players to make movements behind his shoulders, they must attack the last line.”
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Mourinho also said Man City’s Phil Foden should be omitted for the clash against Czech Republic but not because he ‘isn’t happy’ with the young midfielder.
“Not for this match I don’t think,” he added when asked if the City star should retain his place.
“When you have these kind of squads there cannot be any drama, not for the players, the fans, the media. When the squads are very good this is a normal situation.
“To leave Foden or Phillips out is not to say I’m not happy with them, not at all. It’s a big squad with 26 players, lots of players and everybody is ready to play.
“In the next match, if you play Portugal, France or Germany you maybe have a different approach.”
Reflecting on England’s performance against Scotland, Mourinho said Reece James and Luke Shaw were ‘afraid’ to express themselves offensively in fear of making a mistake.
He also questioned whether two defensive midfielders were required for England for the whole match.
But he is confident about England’s chances against the Czechs, expecting them to win whatever line up Southgate selects.
“They have the quality, they must find the confidence,” he said.
“It is about being fearless, being more confident and go for the jugular. They have no reason not to as they are qualified.
“Now it is a question of finishing first or second. I am totally convinced that England will win well this afternoon.”
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