DO I NOT LEAK THAT
Fed-up Coady says it’s time to keep it clean
CONOR COADY is not the easiest of people to offend but two things clearly bother him.
Criticism of England’s defence is one and him being cast as a tourist the other.
But the mild-mannered Everton defender is aware that if the Three Lions are to go and win the World Cup, then the clean sheets must return.
England were rock solid in 2021, enjoying 14 clean sheets in 19 games and conceding just five. It was the foundation which their run to the Euro 2020 final was built on.
Compare that to this year so far and it’s two in eight games with 10 conceded. That led to relegation in the Nations League.
“It’s huge, it’s huge,” said Coady when it was put to him about how important clean sheets are. “That’s not just something we speak about in international football.
“It’s the same every week back at your club – you are speaking about how important clean sheets are going forward and we understand that.
“We have looked in the past at the teams that have won tournaments and they concede very few goals.
“It’s important we focus on that side of our game because that is what we have been good at. It won’t change how we approach and
from CHRIS McKENNA in Doha prepare for games. We will focus on what we need to do.
“It’s important we get back to that. I don’t think we’re far away. OK, we’ve played some fantastic teams the last few months, and it’s important we get back to doing what we’re doing.
“The Euros was huge for us in terms of how we defended as a team.”
But Coady (below) is aware Gareth Southgate’s side are being criticised for their defensive frailties of late.
“Massively, because I’m a defender,” he said when he was asked if he’s offended by the defence being singled out.
“You don’t like hearing things like that. We read and we see and we listen to absolutely everything.” Coady was part of the Euro 2020 squad but did not play a minute of the tournament.
It did not stop England assistant Steve Holland naming him as his player of the tournament during the competition.
He is renowned for his leadership qualities but he was irked by a suggestion that he’s a ‘good tourist’.
“I don’t think of myself as that, to be honest,” added Coady.
“I think of myself as a player who has come here to do my best to try and help as much as I possibly can. I want to push everyone.
“I’ve said it plenty of times before, what are you going to do? Come here, sit and sulk and go back to your room?
Or are you going to try to push people?
“That is all I am going to do. I will be doing my best if
I am called upon.
“I don’t think of myself as a tourist.”