Potential Henderson backlash won’t be a factor for Southgate
Gareth Southgate says he has never picked an England team “based on external reaction” and will not change tack despite Jordan Henderson facing a potential backlash from some fans for moving to Saudi Arabia.
The 33-year-old this summer swapped the Liverpool captaincyforthesaudiproleague, joining Steven Gerrard’s Al-ettifaq in a controversial £12milliondeal.hendersonhas been a high-profile supporter of LGBTQ+ rights during his time on Merseyside and this weekapologisedforanyhurthe caused by moving to a country where homosexuality is illegal.
The midfielder hoped his move to Saudi Arabia can help the LGBTQ+ rights movement and is now set to feature in his first international match since joining Al-ettifaq when England face Ukraine in this evening’s Euro 2024 qualifier in Wroclaw.
Asked if the potential for a negative reaction towards Henderson impacts his thinking, Southgate said: “No, I don’t pick the team based on external reaction as you’ll be well aware over the course of seven years.
“But he’s a very experienced professional. He is very mature athandlinganysituation,really.
“He’s trained really well this week, the whole group have. I’ve been really pleased with the approach to everything. Everybodyisavailable,whichis good for us.”
Joe White, the co-chair of LGBTQ+ fan groups network Pride in Football and founder of Three Lions Pride, last week said they did not believe Henderson would receive a hostile reception from LGBTQ+ supporters.
However,theywarnedthathis presence could see some fans turn their back on the midfielder “in the same way he turned his back on us” – something Henderson said it hurt to hear.
“Well, I think Jordan expressed himself this week thathe’dbesadifthat’showthey felt,” England boss Southgate said. “His feeling towards that community hasn’t changed.
“I think as a team… I am sure all of our fans are going to get behindtheteamwhenthegame starts.iunderstandsomeofthe comments that have been, and I respectthecommentsthathave been made. But I think what’s also been said is that they’re going to get behind the team when we play, and I am sure they’ll get behind Jordan when the game starts as well.”
Southgate has a 24-strong squad to select from against Ukraine, with England looking to all but secure qualification for Euro 2024 by claiming a fifth straight Group C win.
The Polish city of Wroclaw is playing host to the match as Ukraine continue to stage matches outside of their homeland following the Russian invasion last year, with a yellow andbluewallawaitingengland at the Tarczynski Arena.
“Weknowofcoursehundreds of thousands of Ukrainians are living here so we’re expecting a very passionate and partisan support for their team,” Southgate said. “We are used to playing in that sort of environment.
“We’re of course respectful of the occasion, but our job is to come here and attempt to win a football game.
“So, for us making sure we keep the emotions in check and make sure that we’re focusing on our job.”