Southgate determined to show he’s the ‘daddy’ after stars fall out
GARETH SOUTHGATE was under the impression he was the father of one big happy family.
Since taking charge of his flock in 2016 he has made it his mission to make sure no-one strays and that everyone works as one towards the ultimate goal of conquering the world.
But like Southgate admitted in impromptu press conference yesterday, families fall out from time to time.
Now it has happened for the first time on the manager’s watch, following Raheem Sterling’s unprovoked attack on Joe Gomez in the canteen at St George’s Park.
Despite the mediation of Jordan Henderson on the telephone, the end result is that Sterling has been axed for tomorrow’s showpiece Euro 2020 qualifier against Montenegro at Wembley, while Gomez is left with a scratch under his eye.
Out of nowhere, England’s squad has gone from being the Waltons to the Gallaghers, as the FA get set to celebrate the national team’s 1000th game in front of the great and good of English football.
The most iconic English star of the modern game will be watching from the stands. You couldn’t make it up – and Southgate must feel like he’s been struck by a bolt of lightning.
The question now is, what effect will this all have on England’s most influential player and dressing-room harmony?
Southgate held a team meeting at St George’s Park on Monday night. He spoke his all about the importance of team unity, while the squad’s ‘leadership group,’ including Harry Kane and Fabian Delph, voiced their own opinions.
Gomez got his views off his Sterling apologised for his actions.
Some will agree with Southgate’s sanctions, but some will think it harsh to axe someone who has done so much for English football in the last 18 months prior to one moment of madness.
The return of club cliques to the international scene is the last thing Southgate needs and he is determined to move forward without allowing people to look back.
The England boss made an attempt to put the issue to bed when addressing the media but the topic will not magically disappear when he faces more awkward questions again in Watford later today.
He said: “These things happen in football. Then what you have to find is a way for the group to move forward.
“We have some excellent senior players who played a part in bringing everyone together and you need, as a manager, to see that the group is prepared to work together.
“My priority is always the care and wellbeing of all of my players and then you chest and have a decision to make on whether there needs to be something further which is the right decision for the group moving forward, which was my reason for not selecting Raheem for the game on Thursday.
“I love all of my players. We’re like a family and families have disagreements, but the most important thing for any family is that you communicate through those disagreements and work through them.
“I don’t expect, as a manager, never to have to deal with things that are either unexpected or difficult.
“That’s part and parcel of the job and part and parcel of working with elite players. But our focus now is to move forward.”
Southgate has reminded his band of millionaire brothers who is the boss and that even his biggest names are not immune from being made an example of.
He added: “I think it’s important to always be as fair as possible in any decision making I take. I am the manager and I have certain decisions which are my responsibility and I am prepared to take.
“I always have to find the right solution for the group and for how we will work moving forward. That’s a very difficult line.
“You try to be fair at all times, like with all the players. I wont always get that right, but in the end I’m the manager.
“I’ve made a decision and I think it was appropriate for how we want to work moving forward. Raheem is a very important player for us, but I felt it was the right thing.”