Ollie Watkins has offered a candid look at Thomas Tuchel's management style, revealing that the England head coach is prepared to raise his voice when training standards slip during the World Cup preparations in Kansas City.

The Aston Villa striker described Tuchel as relentlessly demanding, someone who holds players accountable from the first session to the last. "I think he is not afraid to shout at you. He is always demanding from you and making sure you are on it every day," Watkins said.

Spence in the firing line

Tuchel was caught on camera barking at Tottenham Hotspur defender Djed Spence to "wake up" during a training drill — a moment that underlined the German's zero-tolerance approach to lapses in concentration. England are preparing for their second World Cup group-stage fixture against Ghana on Tuesday.

Watkins admitted he had narrowly avoided the same fate. "It was lucky it wasn't me. I think I made a mistake just before Djed did but he ended up shouting at Djed, luckily," the striker said. "I think it just shows that he is a winner and that he is always driving the standards, making sure we are on it. That is what you need when the aim is to win a World Cup."

Watkins was also quick to paint a fuller picture of the coach. "[Tuchel is] very demanding, but when he is around the base camp he is very relaxed and chilled," he added.

Spence takes it in his stride

Spence himself was unfazed by being singled out, framing the moment as entirely routine from an elite-level coach. "I probably just missed one of the zones to go to and he just told me to wake up," the 25-year-old told BBC Radio 5 Live. "It's normal, you know. He's an elite manager — he demands the highest quality from his players, and we want to give the highest quality back as well."

The Tottenham Hotspur full-back also spoke warmly about his relationship with Tuchel. "He talks to me sometimes before training, after training — reminds me of what I need to do, my minutes, and what qualities I possess. I can say I've got a good relationship with him, and I think he's a great manager," Spence said.

Spence was included in England's 26-man World Cup squad despite Tottenham Hotspur's ongoing relegation battle in the Premier League. With Tino Livramento sidelined through injury, the versatile defender is considered Tuchel's first-choice cover at both left-back and right-back. He came off the bench for the final 10 minutes of England's 4-2 opening-game victory over Croatia.

Tuchel has won the UEFA Champions League with Chelsea in 2021, as well as league titles with Paris St-Germain and Bayern Munich, credentials that lend weight to his exacting demands on the training pitch.