Emmanuel Petit, the former French international, has advised England manager Thomas Tuchel to exclude Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka from the starting lineup for the Three Lions’ World Cup opener against Croatia. Petit believes the winger has not been performing at his best, citing his struggles in the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain last season.
The 24-year-old, according to Petit, has lost his impact on the pitch. In a conversation with talkSPORT, Petit stated that Saka should not be in the first XI, as other players are more deserving. He emphasized that Saka is not the kind of player who can be effective even when playing below his best, unlike legends such as Zinedine Zidane or Lionel Messi.
Petit’s comments come ahead of England’s crucial group stage match, and he is urging Tuchel to make bold decisions to ensure the team’s success in the tournament.