LONDON: England coach Gareth Southgate said speculation linking him with the manager’s position at Manchester United currently occupied by Erik ten Hag was “completely disrespectful” and insisted on Friday he wouldn’t begin talks over another job while in charge of the national team.
Sections of the British media have reported that Southgate could be in the running to replace ten Hag if the Dutchman loses his job following the arrival of Jim Ratcliffe and his INEOS team that will oversee the club’s soccer operations.
Southgate has a contract to coach England through December and he said his focus was on leading his national team at the European Championship in Germany in June.
Speaking on Friday ahead of England’s friendly against Brazil at Wembley Stadium on Saturday, Southgate responded to a reporter’s question about the links to United that have spread this week.
“There are two things,” he said. “I am the England manager. I have got one job basically, to try and deliver a European Championship. Clearly, before that, two important games this week (against Brazil and then Belgium on Tuesday).
“The second thing is Manchester United have a manager, and I think it is always completely disrespectful when there is any speculation about a manager that is in place. I am president of the League Managers’ Association. I don’t have any time for that sort of thing.”
Southgate said his focus was only on Euro 2024.
“If we (agreed to) a contract (with the Football Association) before, everyone would be saying, ‘Why are you signing a contract before a Euros where you’ve got to prove yourself?’” Southgate posed.
“I am certainly not going to speak to anybody else ahead of that. I never have. I have been eight years in the job. I wouldn’t entertain speaking to anybody else when I am in a job.”
Southgate says speculation linking him to Man United job is ‘completely disrespectful’
https://arab.news/b9t8a
Southgate says speculation linking him to Man United job is ‘completely disrespectful’
- Sections of the British media have reported that Southgate could be in the running to replace ten Hag if the Dutchman loses his job
- “I am the England manager. I have got one job basically, to try and deliver a European Championship” Southgate said
Jordan make history as they reach Arab Cup final for first time with narrow victory over Saudi Arabia
- Green Falcons left to rue squandered chances as they miss out on what would have been their first final appearance in the competition since 2002
- Semi-final victory comes during a stellar year for Jordan in which they also qualified for the World Cup for the first time ever
DOHA: A header by Nizar Al-Rashdan gave Jordan a 1-0 victory in a tense match against Saudi Arabia on Monday and sent them to their first Arab Cup final.
Deprived of the services of Yazan Al-Naimat, who suffered a devastating knee injury in their quarter-final against Iraq, Jordan delivered a brave performance, greatly limiting the Saudi attacking threat across the 90 minutes.
The semi-final at Al-Bayt Stadium in Qatar attracted the highest attendance of the tournament so far, a vibrant crowd of 62,825. Both sides began cautiously, with Jordan lining up in a robust 5-4-1 formation that sought to restrict Salem Al-Dawsari and Saleh Abou Al-Shamat in the final third.
The game opened up a little after the break, as a tactical change from Jordan helped them gain greater control on the counterattack. Mohammed Abu Zrayq in particular proved influential down the right flank as he stretched the Saudi defense and gave the Nashama more attacking momentum.
The decisive moment, however, came from the opposite side. Mahmoud Al-Mardi delivered a dipping cross from the left, catching the Green Falcons’ defense off guard, and Al-Rashdan rose to head home the only goal of the match in the 66th minute.
Saudi Arabia responded with a series of substitutions, including the introduction of Al-Qadsiah midfielder Musab Al-Juwayr. The former Al-Hilal player helped link play between Al-Dawsari and Feras Al-Brikan down the left channel as the Saudis pressed for the equalizer.
Al-Brikan and then Saleh Al-Shehri both went close but Yazeed Abulaila stood firm in goal, producing a crucial save just minutes after Jordan took the lead.
The match ended on a particularly sour note for Saudi Arabia when last man Waleed Al-Ahmed was shown a straight red card in the closing moments after bringing down an opponent to halt a counterattack, as Jordan saw out their historic victory.
They now face Morocco, who earlier in the day defeated the UAE 3-0, in the final on Thursday.
