Recently, facing reporters’ interviews, England coach Gareth Southgate refuted claims that the 2024 European Championship Round of 16 clash in Gelsenkirchen could be his last game as England manager.
On the European Championship knockout rounds and rumors
“We want to stay here for another two weeks, I have nothing urgent to rush back for. I also reached the finals of the in-house staff cricket competition, there’s a lot to look forward to here, and I hope to stay here for a few more days.”
“The players have been really buzzing and in a good place over the last few days. They’ve been able to relax off the training pitch, play a bit of golf and all that. Football isn’t always scientific, it’s about enjoyment and pleasure. Sometimes in games, you also need to talk about and focus on the things that football is about.”
“Having the right rest for the players is also crucial when they’re getting ready for a game. We’ve prepared thoroughly for the difficult task of penalties, and we have more regular penalty takers from clubs in our squad than we did three years ago, so we have more experience.”
On Bellingham
“We have a lot of young players in our team, performing on the biggest stage in the world, inevitably, some can reach their peak and some can’t. I have high hopes for Bellingham, and we celebrated his birthday. He is a top player and is full of motivation for tomorrow’s game.”
On his upcoming 100th milestone
The match against Slovakia will be Southgate’s 99th game in charge, “Every game I lead England in, whether it’s the first, the 54th, or the whatever, brings me immense pride.”
“When you’re leading your national team, it’s an unparalleled thing. I never take it for granted, and I’ve always felt it’s a responsibility and a pride. I came here hoping to lead the team, work hard and help the national team win.”
This article is from a user submission and does not represent the views of Soccer News Pick. If you repost it, please indicate the source: https://www.soccernewspick.com/uefa-european-championship/3602.html