Southgate to place trust in John Stones
GARETH SOUTHGATE will continue to put his trust in John Stones if he is confirmed as England’s permanent manager.
Against Scotland on Friday, the Manchester City centre-back was caught out on several occasions trying to play his way out of defence.
But Southgate, like Stones’ club manager Pep Guardiola, is a huge advocate of defenders passing their way out of trouble and he has vowed to give the country’s most expensive defender all the time necessary to get it right.
“What we have to remember is that John is just 22 and in central defensive terms, that’s nothing,” says Southgate.
“If we want a (Mats) Hummels, a ( Jerome) Boateng or a (Gerard) Pique, we have to let him develop.
“I can remember managing a team against Pique when he was 22 and played for Manchester United. He wasn’t the all-round real deal.
“I think John has the perfect manager to work with and to hone his ability.
“For years we’ve talked about not being able to play out from the back.
“If we are going to be different and to progress, then we have to encourage players, even though at times it’s going to encounter difficulties.
“Anyone who has seen the Under21s play knows that I believe this is the right way going forward.
“I believe we have the technical ability to do it.
“I think it’s about decisionmaking and positioning sometimes.
“We need to recognise when to really commit to it and when to play past the opposition’s first press.
“We want bravery on the ball but not stupidity. We have to find that balance.
“John knows what I think of some of the things he did against Scotland.”