The winner

 

The winner.

 

We say we want leaders, fighters, and characters on the pitch. But what 'they' really want, is perfection the polished version of passion that never spills over.

 

'They' are people that will never know what it's like to be in the head of a winner. Thomas Tuchel talks about his Mum and that says, "she cannot see the nice, well-educated, well-behaved guy that I see."

 

For someone on the outside who doesn’t know or understand, they see a kid that is swearing, shouting, demanding, angry, frustrated and make a judgement.

 

Jude Bellingham plays with heart, intensity, and a will to win, but with that drive comes emotion, frustration, and edge. And instead of embracing the whole person, loving it all, those that don't understand try to tame or shame them.

 

I was slightly disappointed with a couple of things Tuchel said. "Needs to be channelled so not to intimidate team-mates or be over-aggressive towards officials."

 

We can't ask for winners and expect them to behave like spectators. Passion doesn’t come with an off switch. It's the fire that fuels.

 

Having a demanding teammate can be intimidating to those that aren't performing. If you operate from ego, you will see a threat, make it personal and feel criticised.

 

If you act from humility, you will raise your standards and see the lad demanding is the one that will possibly drag you to win a World Cup.

 

I see the same with so many other players that England produce. They get bigged up and lauded for all the good things they bring and shot down when it goes over that edge.

 

If you have a player with a sharp edge, be prepared that it can cut at times. You either accept that or try to blunt that edge. You cannot have the ‘good’ without the ‘bad’. The light without the dark.

 

If you have a winner, he will lead, demand and raise everyone’s standards. Therefore that same winner will hate losing, will let people know when they aren’t pulling their weight and occasionally go over that edge.

 

Accept that. Embrace and love that. Rather than trying to tame and shame it out of him. It’s what makes him the winner.