I REALLY admire the way Gareth Southgate is fronting up and taking the flak for his England team. After the 0-0 draw with Slovenia, a second consecutive frustrating and disappointing performance , he could have gone straight to the locker room and yelled and got angry with the world. Instead he went over to the England fans, even though he knew they were far from happy.
He confronted the situation and he thanked them for their support. Even though a few of them threw plastic beer glasses at him, many more will have appreciated that gesture. That shows Gareth’s strength of character.
Deflecting criticism from your players is part of a manager’s job — especially during a tournament. Everyone prefers compliments to boos. We’re all human beings.
But when that criticism comes, you need broad shoulders. Gareth has that, as a seasoned tournament manager. Like Gareth, I’ve lived through many major tournaments as a player and a manager.
CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS They have a unique intensity and that intensity is what you live for I love tournaments for precisely those sorts of moments. Dealing with these extreme emotions, knowing you have little time to turn things around but always knowing it is possible. Every fan is so pumped up for tournaments that they expect you to go out and play the other team out of the stadium, scoring three or four goals, but it so rarely happens.
You have to make sure everyone in the group from the bus driver to the press offi.
