Bellingham silences Henderson critics: 'They don't have a clue what they're talking about'

Jude Bellingham has come out swinging in defence of Jordan Henderson’s World Cup selection, insisting critics of Thomas Tuchel’s decision to include the 35-year-old midfielder simply do not understand what he contributes inside the England camp. Bellingham’s Aston Villa teammate Morgan Rogers was equally emphatic, calling Henderson “the best guy I’ve ever come across in football.”

Henderson’s inclusion has divided opinion among fans and pundits, with many arguing Tuchel should have opted for a younger, more dynamic option. But speaking on England’s YouTube channel, Bellingham made clear that view carries no weight with the players themselves. “Don’t get us started on Hendo, we could speak about Hendo…” he said, before Rogers added his own endorsement.

When the pair were told that some considered Henderson a controversial pick, Bellingham shook his head and responded directly: “They don’t have a clue what they’re talking about. You know from being here for one week how important he is.”

Bellingham went on to detail exactly why Henderson commands such respect, citing both his personality and his relentless professionalism in training. “He’s so funny, the funniest guy in this camp and he gets everyone laughing, he gets everyone together,” Bellingham said. “If there’s ever an issue, if you’re 22, 23, you might feel it’s a bit too much to raise it — he’ll address it for you.”

He also pointed to Henderson’s willingness to set aside his status for the good of the squad. “He’s a Premier League and Champions League-winning captain and he was doing the sets for the finishing. He doesn’t have to do stuff like that, he doesn’t have to be that humble, but every day he’s relentless in training, pushing everyone to be better.”

Bellingham argued that Henderson’s reserved media presence has allowed an unfair narrative to take hold outside the camp. “He’s a closed character when it comes to the press and that has given them a chance to create a narrative about why he’s here. But for us inside, he’s the first name on the teamsheet.”

Rogers reinforced the point with a telling hypothetical: “If people did a blind ranking of people they want at the camp beforehand, he’d be in everyone’s top five.”

Henderson is appearing in his seventh major tournament with England and could become the first England men’s player to feature in four World Cup finals. The Three Lions open their World Cup campaign against Croatia in Dallas on Wednesday.