Neville: I won’t change. . . even if it costs me my job
Record crowd see Lionesses lose
Phil Neville insists he will not compromise his style of play even if it costs him his job, as the england manager finally held his hand up to take responsibility for his side’s dismal run of form.
The FA’s hierarchy may have whispered in Neville’s ear this week and urged him to be more honest in his post-match assessments, in a bid to plug the negative headlines he has been inviting. Spouting one untenable excuse after another would do him no favours after watching his side lose to Germany in front of a record 77,768 crowd at Wembley.
it was the lionesses’ fifth defeat in seven games and results are taking a toll. For the first time since January 2018, when Neville took the reins, the 42-year-old dropped the act of bravado. As he leaned against a corridor wall in the depths of the stadium to answer questions, the World Cup hangover was showing. Although Neville revealed his tactic against Germany was to ‘play more direct’, he said that as a rule he won’t sway from his principles, or the england way.
‘For the long-term development of english football and the long-term development of the lionesses, we have to play this style of football,’ he said.
‘it is the right way to play, it is the england DNA. it is the way Gareth Southgate is playing, that i am playing, that the pathway coaches on both sides are playing — it is what we believe in.
‘As a manager you want to live and die by your beliefs, but ultimately the run we are on means something has to change. Performance levels have to change and it is up to me to find that formula.’
But Neville doesn’t believe wholesale player changes are the answer to curing england’s slump. ‘i am not going to do that. if you make five or six changes, you have to bring five or six players in. The players below have got to still reach the levels required to play and that is the push we want to give players who are not in the starting Xi.’
Despite england still falling victim to slow starts and set-pieces — nine of the last 13 goals they have conceded have come from crosses or corners — Neville says he does not feel let down by players he vows to protect.
he said, ‘First i need to look at myself and what i’m doing and make sure i’m better, because as a manager you’re the one that leads. i’d go to my grave with these players and their attitudes, and that’s why i want to take responsibility. My performances haven’t been good enough and you can see that with the results.’
With 75 minutes played, and the score 1-1, england were obviously fatigued, but Neville insists the lionesses are on the way to being the ‘fitter, faster and more durable’ side he demands. he confirmed he has been satisfied by the rigorous testing the players have been subjected to during recent international camps. ‘ every player is better than they were at the World Cup. We’ve set them high markers and they’ve responded fantastically. That shows me they’re hungry to improve and that will continue.’
Tomorrow, england play the Czech Republic. They — and Neville — badly need a win. ENGLAND (4-4-1-1): Earps 6; Bronze 7, Houghton 6, Williamson 5, Greenwood 6; Parris 5 (Hemp 73min, 6), Scott 6, Walsh 6, Mead 7 (Daly 72, 6); Nobbs 6 (Stanway 77); White 7 (Taylor 73, 6). Subs not used: Telford, Bright, Stokes, McManus, Staniforth, England, Roebuck, Bonner. Scorer: White 44. Manager: Phil Neville 5. GERMANY (4-3-3): Frohms 6; Hendrich 7, Doorsoun 6, Oberdorf 6 (Hegering 45, 6), Kleinherne 6; Marozsan 7.5, DABRITZ 8 (Leupolz 70, 6), Magull 6 (Lattwein 84); Starke 6 (Knaak 65, 5.5), Popp 7 (Bremer 65, 6); Buhl 7. Subs not used: Maier, Schuller, Benkarth, Dallmann, Rauch, Schmitz, Gasper. Booked: Frohms, Doorsoun, Kleinherne. Scorers: Popp 9, Buhl 90. Manager: Martina Voss-Tecklenburg 7. Referee: Stephanie Frappart (France) 6. Attendance: 77,768.