E.ON Next sits down with Thomas Tuchel to explore the power behind performance

With England roaring into a summer of play, attention is naturally focused on the Three Lions squad’s tactics, team selections and what happens on and off the pitch. 

But for England Men's Head Coach Thomas Tuchel, success is built long before kick-off. 

In an episode of Power Players – E.ON Next’s leadership interview series created as part of our partnership with England Football – Tuchel reflects on the qualities underpinning sustained performance: consistency, trust, clarity and culture. 

The conversation may come at a moment when the world’s teams are being tested in a massive summer of football – but many of the lessons Tuchel shared in the chat reach far beyond sport. 

Asked by interviewer David Garrido how he maintains consistency as a leader in an environment defined by constant change, Tuchel pointed to authenticity above all else. 

He said: “Maybe the consistency in my leadership style is that it's always me. It's consistent because it represents you all the time, and it's inconsistent because you adapt and hopefully get better and adjust.” 

That balance between consistency and adaptability is a theme that resonates strongly with our mission to make new energy work for everyone. 

Whether building resilient energy systems, helping households gain greater control over their bills, or supporting communities through the energy transition, long-term success depends on creating approaches which can evolve while remaining dependable. 

Throughout the interview – which you can watch in full by clicking below – Tuchel repeatedly returns to the importance of trust, communication and creating environments where people can thrive. 

Tuchel added: "To make players feel comfortable, but also make a group feel competitive and still have an enjoyable environment. I think everyone is looking for that. It's enjoyable to come in the morning. It's enjoyable to be in the group. It's safe to be in the group.” 

For us at E.ON Next, those same principles sit at the heart of building the workforce and skills needed to deliver the UK’s energy transition.

From apprenticeships and early-career programmes to initiatives that support greater diversity and inclusion, creating opportunities for people to develop, contribute and lead will be essential to building a better tomorrow. 

The connection between sport and future skills is increasingly clear.  

E.ON’s Women in Sport: Powering Performance research shows participation in sport helps develop qualities employers value most – resilience, teamwork, confidence, leadership and problem-solving.  

These are the same skills required by the people who will help design, build and operate the clean energy infrastructure that will power the UK's future. 

Tuchel's own expectations of his players reflect those values. 

His advice to players is: “Be the best teammate first of all. Be the best teammate and be respectful.” 

Tuchel’s sentiment mirrors the philosophy behind our long-term partnership with The Football Association and programmes such as England Football’s The Greener Game, supported by E.ON Next, and which is helping grassroots football clubs reduce energy costs and invest more back into their communities.

For Tuchel, trust is ultimately what allows teams to perform under pressure. 

He said: "If I feel the genuine trust, then I feel free to adapt and to change and to adjust." 

As England’s football squad continues a summer of play that will see them cheered on by millions of fans, his reflections offer a timely reminder lasting success is rarely built on single moments. 

Whether on the training ground, in local communities or across the country's evolving energy system, progress comes from people working together in the long-term with purpose, clarity and trust. 

It’s why we’re proud to have been ranked in the Top 10 Best Places to Work in the UK for the second year in a row – with the company also Highly Commended in the Best Places to Work for Women category. 

If you haven’t already seen it, you can find the full episode of E.ON Next’s Power Players featuring Thomas Tuchel here – and discover more about the leadership lessons powering one of football’s most influential figures.