Southgate is just 90 minutes away from getting England job
NOT even witnessing the escalating pressure on his friend, Gordon Strachan, has reduced Gareth Southgate’s desire to be England manager.
The victory over Scotland removed the last obvious football obstacle to the FA confirming the interim boss as permanent.
However, there has remained a suspicion that Southgate might just not fancy the intense personal scrutiny that comes with the position.
Strachan, his for mer ITV punditr y colleague, is fighting to hold on to his job in the face of severe criticism but Southgate has now removed any doubts that worries about what happens when things go wrong would put him off accepting the job.
“I don’t like to see any manager in Gordon’s situation,” he says. “I have been in those shoes.
“While I am chuffed with the result, I obviously feel for him.
“But for me there are no fears with the job. It would be easy to look at the negatives but to work with top players and to be involved in big matches is what I want to do.”
Southgate has consistently straight-batted all questions about whether he actually wants to be the man to succeed Sam Allardyce, knowing that he had little chance of being offered the post if he failed his four- game audition.
But, providing his team aren’t embarrassed in Tuesday’s friendly against Spain, his steady handling of his emergency role and that fact there are few obvious alternative candidates effectively means that the job is his to turn down.
“I’ve avoided answering the question because I don’t think it is necessary,” he adds.
“I’ve seen people in this sort of position talk about how much they want the job and it becomes an irrelevance if you don’t prepare the team well.
“If you don’t fulfil the task you are asked to do it’s a non-starter anyway.
“I’ve loved doing it and I’ve seen some signs of progress with how we’ve played.
“From my point of view it has been a brilliant experience whatever happens.
“My priority was to win the game on Friday and I’m pleased for the players and pleased for the country, because I know what it means for everybody.
“I don’t know what the process is now but for me there’s no issue with it.
“There are often appointments at clubs without interviews, so some young coaches don’t get opportunities because people just appoint managers without seeing what is out there.
“So it would be hypocritical for me to say the FA shouldn’t go through that.
“My experience in football and in life is that if you do what you are doing as well as you possibly can, then opportunity comes.”
Images of Southgate celebrating on the touchline almost Jurgen Klopp or Antonio Conte- style when the goals went in against the Scots surprised some, given his reputation for studied coolness.
“You obviously didn’t watch me at the end of matches at Middlesbrough!” he laughs.
“Look, I enjoy winning. The person I am with the press or outside meeting people is different to the animal that wants to win football matches.
“I think the players get that now and that’s important because sometimes there’s a misconception about how much it means to me to win.
“Winning against Scotland was a special night to be involved in.”
If and when Southgate is confirmed as the man to take England through the qualification to the Russia World Cup and perhaps beyond, he will stick to the build-from-the-back style that has been the hallmark of his Under- 21 side.
It got his team into spots of bother against Scotland and he’s aware his players will be able to take even fewer liberties against Spain.
“It will be a very different challenge and one we’ll have to be spot-on for,” he says.
“Against Scotland, I wanted an England team that played with confidence and was prepared to use the ball, even though it was a very intense and difficult atmosphere.
“For sure, Spain will press us. They do that very well, so we have to be savvier.”