James Trafford says that “motivated” English boss Thomas Tuchel does not “leave a stone undisturbed”, and inspires him in the same way as his former coaches Pep Guardiola and Vincent Kompany.
The 22-year-old, who looks at his first senior Three Lions Cap, is one of the four keepers mentioned in Tuchel's team for his opening matches of two World Cup against Albania and Latvia.
Trafford came through the youth ranks in Manchester City under Guardiola, before he played for Burnley last season under Kompany, who then left for Bayern Munich.
And the goalkeeper of Clarets sees parallels between the couple and Tuchel, who, according to him, all has the same appearance.
“They have an obsession with football. They don't really leave a stone unknowingly,” said Trafford. “They prepare you as well as possible, so if you go into the game, you know more or less exactly what you will stand for.
“They are just so motivated, and they inspire you. When they speak, they have such a way with how they speak that you believe them so much and listen to everything they say.
“I would not say that it is essential, because they will be different managers for those who are successful. It is just the three I have worked with, all that way are quite similar.”
The Trafford born in Cockermouth is accompanied in the team by another Cumbrian in Crystal Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson, whose inclusion feels more at home in the camp.
“I get along very well with Deano. We speak a lot, whether it's at the camp or outside camp,” he added.
“It means that there is someone from my area – because we are otherwise in the north. It is really someone with the same Craic. We can talk about things from the north that nobody else knows, because we are both from the area.”
Tt. pic.twitter.com/ygqmbq7lzz
– England (@england) March 19, 2025
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