MOUR’S PLEDGE TO BACK GARETH
PAUL HETHERINGTON JOSE MOURINHO has vowed to give Gareth Southgate his full support as he takes over as interim England boss.
And the Manchester United manager insists the former Middlesbrough boss has got his first decision right – retaining Wayne Rooney as England’s captain.
Southgate names his first full England squad this afternoon for the World Cup qualifiers against Malta at Wembley on Saturday, then in Slovenia three days later.
He has stepped up from coach of the England Under-21s following the sensational departure of Sam Allardyce after only one game in charge.
And Mourinho said: “Gareth is the manager of the national team and doesn’t just have 100 per cent respect from me, he has 200 per cent if I can give that to him.
“So any decision that he has with my players, I always respect and support.
“If you ask me if I’m happy with the decision about Wayne being captain, then yes, I am very happy with the decision.
“But Gareth always has my support, as Sam had, as Sven Goran Eriksson had and as all the ones in my time as Chelsea manager or Manchester United manager have had.
“They will always have my support and never a criticism or any kind of pressure.”
Former England defender Southgate, who is in charge for the next four matches, was quick to confirm Rooney (above) as skipper even though he has not started United’s last two matches – victories over Leicester and Zorya Luhansk.
But Mourinho added: “He is the captain, no matter what.
“It doesn’t matter if he is on or off the pitch.
“As I’ve told you before, he is my captain – captain of the club and captain of the players.
“And it is difficult to be captain of everyone but he has all the respect and all the support. He is a Manchester United man.”
Mourinho also revealed that Rooney can be a hands-on skipper in the dressing room – whether he is starting a match or a substitute.
The Portuguese said: “He is always speaking to the players and motivates people.
“He does exactly the same thing in the dressing room as he was doing a couple of weeks ago when he was starting matches, so there is no problem.”
Southgate’s squad will include a recall for Rooney’s United team-mate Marcus Rashford, 18, but Old Trafford left-back Luke Shaw is set to miss out because of ongoing fitness issues.