sport news Gareth Southgate has stepped back on the touchline to allow his England side to ... trends now
Gareth Southgate feels his job is near enough complete. His players know their roles and what is required.
The England manager is letting go. It is up to the players now. Like all responsible father figures, Southgate will be on hand to offer advice and encouragement, but if England are to lift the World Cup they will do so without their manager guiding them through every step of the game.
Southgate has made a conscious decision to step back in Qatar. You will no longer see him constantly on the edge of his technical area, sharing every emotion and blow with his players. He feels his team are beyond that.
Gareth Southgate has taken a different approach in his technical area during the World Cup
Instead, he is more likely to be watching intently from the dugout, next to his trusted lieutenant Steve Holland, assessing players he has had a hand in raising and seeing them execute what he has taught them.
‘I got into a bit of a habit during Covid of standing out there because you felt they needed more encouragement at the side of the pitch without the fans,’ said Southgate.
‘But I’m happier just biding my time and taking my moments really. I don’t really need to be playing every ball for the players, I trust them and it has been nice to sit and watch a little bit more. In the modern game you see quite a lot going on at the side of the pitch.
The England boss insists he players are 'prepared', allowing him to take a step back
‘Look, it won’t be for some but I don’t feel I need to be out there to play every ball with them. They know what they are doing, they are prepared, they know I will be there when they need me.
‘And also we have the monitor where we can watch everything with a slight time delay if things happen when you have got to make some tactical decisions.’
Southgate’s change in approach will serve to fuel suspicions that, win or lose, this could be his last tournament in charge of England.
The FA are hoping that is not the case. So too are the players, who have built an unbreakable bond with a coach who has transformed the
