Arsene Wenger voices controversial opinion on England's Thomas Tuchel decision

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Arsene Wenger has criticised England’s decision to appoint Thomas Tuchel as their new national team manager.

Gareth Southgatestood down following last summer’s European Championships and created a vacancy that the Football Association took several months to fill.

Chief executive Mark Bullingham claimed last week that the governing body had spoken to 10 potential candidates before finally settling on former Chelsea and Bayern Munich boss Tuchel.

The German will begin his new job next year as the Three Lions build up to the 2026 World Cup where they will be regarded as one of the favourites.

Wenger has no doubt Tuchel’s track record suggests he will make a success of his new role but insists a major nation such as England should not be permitted to hire a foreign coach.

The former Arsenal manager was, himself, approached by the likes of Germany and England in the past but the prospect of managing a nation other than France never appealed to him.

He told beIN Sport: ‘I thought always that a national team is a part-time job with 10 games per-year and I prefer to play 60.

‘I had the offers on both sides (France and Germany). I felt as well to me on that front the rules I prefer that the manager is from the country.

‘If you look at France why should the player have to be from the country but not the manager.

‘Yes (I would’ve felt uncomfortable) but first of all I was not too much interested in doing a national team.

‘I said always you take all my statements during my time in England, I said England has to take an English manager. I didn’t change my mind.

‘Now they employ Tuchel. I think Tuchel is a perfect coach, perfect candidate but he is not English. It is allowed so there is nothing wrong with that.

‘I just feel always to make it as simple as possible if I am manager of England and I play against France I cannot sing the national anthem of France.’

Tuchel, meanwhile, remained coy on the subject of whether or not he would sing God Save the King when grilled at his unveiling at Wembley.

'I understood from Mark [Bullingham] that it's a personal decision first of all if you sing it,' Tuchel said at his first press conference since taking the job.

'There were managers who sang it and others who didn't. I have not made my decision yet, I want to be very honest with you.

'You're anthem is very moving. The English anthem is very moving I experienced it several times at Wembley. Even out with the players in an FA Cup final it was very touching.

'No matter what decision I take we have a bit of time until March I will always show my respect to the role, to the country and to a very moving anthem.

'I will take a little bit of time for this decision.'