Hughes has earned high credit score
ENGLAND Under-17s coach Steve Cooper says his side will not be seeking a draw tonight against Switzerland.
England, who lead Group A with two wins out of two, need a point at Rotherham to qualify for the quarter-finals of the UEFA U17 Championship.
The Swiss, who have lost to Italy and beaten Israel, have to better Italy’s result against Israel (played at the same time) to qualify.
“It’s difficult to play for a draw. We’re building for the future and we want the players to treat every game the same and get used to winning,” said Cooper. MARK HUGHES has been urged to sign a new, long-term Southampton deal after the club all but secured Premier League survival with a priceless victory over Swansea.
Hughes succeeded the sacked Mauricio Pellegrino in March and penned a deal until the end of this season, with Southampton hovering just above the drop zone.
Saints are still not mathematically safe and host champions Manchester City on the final day of the season on Sunday, but midfielder Oriol Romeu believes Hughes, below, must take the plaudits for lifting he and his team-mates clear of danger, as well as earning a sevenfigure survival bonus.
“The manager deserves credit. He has done really well and he has done his job in a difficult situation,” said the Spaniard.
“The dressing room wasn’t in a good situation. It was difficult to cheer everyone up, but
he did it. He has done what he had to do and he deserves credit for that. The players hope he stays and we can work with him again.”
Manolo Gabbiadini’s scrappy winner saw off Swansea and Romeu said: “Mark has made sure everyone has got along with each other and that has helped.
“With Mauricio, we had so many losses and so it was difficult, but with Mark he has got better results as the atmosphere was better. It was easier for him and he could get that performance out of us.”
Saints players chanted the name of their match-winner Gabbiadini in the dressing room after the game, victory all the more satisfying after what they saw as dirty tricks in the build-up to what was a must-win clash for both teams.
Southampton arrived in Swansea on Sunday only to be told the 40 rooms they had booked at the city’s Marriott Hotel had been cancelled, with the venue insisting they had been hit by a virus.
Hughes and his squad were forced to relocate to the Vale Hotel, 40 miles away, but the Marriott remained open to the public despite Southampton being told they had to move elsewhere.
There is no suggestion Swansea as a club were involved in the Marriott’s decision, Hughes describing the hotel staff as “over-zealous” fans.
Romeu said: “The situation with the hotel motivated us more. They tried to screw us around and that’s their problem.
“We were coming here to get the win and we believed in our quality. We knew it was going to be hard and it was going to be a battle and of course Swansea tried to push the atmosphere their way.
“But as soon as we scored, it was quieter and everything changed.
“To get the win we have been looking for and getting in the position we have wanted to be in for so long but couldn’t reach is an amazing feeling.”
Mark has done his job in a difficult situation