My job is toughest says U21 boss Aidy
AIDY BOOTHROYD has branded managing England Under-21s the ‘utterly impossible job.’
The head coach admits passing all his best players on to Gareth Southgate makes it difficult for him to win a European Championship – but says it is correct the seniors get priority.
Among those who could have played in Boothroyd’s side in these group stages in Slovenia are Phil Foden, Mason Mount and Jude Bellingham.
Boothroyd’s side lost their first two Group D games and need to beat Croatia by two goals tonight and hope Portugal overcome Switzerland if they are to progress to the knockout stages later in the year. Boothroyd said: “The England
senior men’s club has been called the impossible job. The Under-21 job is the utterly impossible job because of the number of players we have to produce for the senior team. And the fact we are expected to win.
“There is a reason we have not won this for 37 years. Part of that is because our primary aim is to get players through to Gareth.
“Can you imagine a reserve team manager knocking on the door of the first-team manager and saying, ‘Listen boss, I need to win today and you should give me the best player because we can win the reserve team championship’? That wouldn’t happen.
“Would you rather have an Under-21 team on an open-top bus or the senior team?”
Boothroyd still wants to stay on as boss when his contract ends in the summer. Nicky Butt and Frank Lampard are in the frame.