Gareth Southgate and Kyle Walker preview the England v Italy Euro 2024 qualifier as Southgate cannot understand fans Boo'ing Jordan henderson
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00:00 Welcome to the Titan Hotspur training ground for today's media conference with Karl Walker
00:13 and Gareth Southgate.
00:14 Ahead of tomorrow's UEFA Euro 2024 qualifier with Italy at Wembley Stadium.
00:19 As ever, please use the microphone available and raise your hand when you've got a question.
00:22 We'll get underway right away with Rob Dorsett, Sky Sports News.
00:26 Thanks Andy.
00:27 Hi Gareth.
00:28 You're in such a distance of qualification, now I know you'll take absolutely nothing
00:32 for granted and you never have, but a draw is enough for England tomorrow night.
00:37 That gives you huge motivation in what is a massive game anyway, doesn't it?
00:41 Yeah, of course.
00:43 Ultimately, the first objective is always to qualify for the tournaments and our performances
00:49 earlier in the group have put us in a really strong position.
00:51 So although the first thing we want to do is win the game, play well, win the game,
01:02 but if it's the 87th minute and we're level, then we don't need to lob the goalkeeper into
01:09 the box at the end of the game.
01:12 On a slightly more difficult note, I need to ask you about Jordan Henderson and what
01:16 happened to him at Wembley on Friday night.
01:19 He came out and spoke to the papers to give him some huge credit and he said he's going
01:24 to continue to play for his country as long as he can.
01:28 If the boos continue though, can you continue to select him?
01:32 Yes, 100%.
01:35 I'll always pick the players that I think are the best players to represent the team,
01:42 give us the best chance of winning unless there's something that I feel is not appropriate.
01:50 In this instance, people may disagree with Jordan's stance or decision given the stance
01:56 he's taken in the past to support the LGBT community, but I don't think that's a reason
02:04 to not select him and I don't actually think that's a reason to boo him.
02:11 So we would like all the fans behind us.
02:14 We're a stronger team if the supporters are with us and wholeheartedly supporting the
02:21 team.
02:22 That's the connection we've had over a long period of time now.
02:27 We'll assess Jordan like every other player, but if I just select on popularity contest
02:34 then our team would look very, very different.
02:36 It's a difficult one for you though, isn't it?
02:38 Because you've had to defend a couple of senior players in recent times.
02:43 I remember how upset you were up at Hampden Park when Harry Maguire was barracked by the
02:47 Scotland supporters.
02:48 So while you're having to defend these very experienced players, does it make you more
02:54 determined than ever to keep selecting them and supporting them specifically?
03:00 Well I will always assess how people are playing and assess what's our strongest team and our
03:09 strongest squad.
03:10 So it wouldn't be fair to say I'm going to support the players and select them regardless
03:15 of what they're capable of, if better younger players come through.
03:22 But I am also going to defend our players, our team, because we need that unity, we need
03:30 that strength.
03:31 And the two players you're talking about have performed again and again and again in massive
03:36 games for us.
03:38 And their quality, their experience, the unmeasurable factors that we have as a group because of
03:47 that team spirit and that togetherness have brought us good results and important big
03:52 results.
03:54 I think their characters are a big part of the reason we've had those big nights.
04:00 Carl, if I can ask you about the same sort of subject if that's okay.
04:04 You know Jordan Henderson so well, he made his debut I think a year before you.
04:07 You've played in this England team together for more than a decade.
04:12 What did you make of it when you were there when we were on Friday night?
04:15 It's not nice to hear.
04:17 I've known Jordan since probably the age of nine when we was playing against Sheffield
04:22 and Ivy Sunderland.
04:23 So to see what he's done for the country for so many years and what he does for around
04:30 the team as well as we know him, you know it's a family in there and we spend, as we
04:35 have done, a week together in a hotel.
04:38 He's a big part of the togetherness and keeping the group together and making sure that everyone
04:43 feels welcome when new players come in or people step in.
04:48 So to hear that, obviously it's not nice to hear but people are entitled to their opinions
04:53 but I fully back Jordan and his decision and what he's had to do.
04:59 Changing tack a bit, this is the first time the AC will have played at Wembley since the
05:03 final of the Euros.
05:04 I'm sorry to bring that up Kyle but I wonder whether that gives you extra motivation.
05:08 I'm sure you're going to say trying to qualify for a major tournament is a motivation in
05:12 its own right but I know how much that hurt you and the rest of the players.
05:17 Yeah of course, to do what we did in that special summer to arrive so close and probably
05:27 for me to concede a goal for a set play where we'd been so good, it was a bit devastating
05:33 but I feel just as at club level, I went to Porto and lost against Chelsea and then two
05:39 years later I've gone and done the treble.
05:42 I feel that people and teams evolve from that.
05:46 I think you learn from occasions where you've been in finals and lose finals and setbacks
05:51 and you've gone and achieved something great.
05:53 I think just what the boss said there, we get a draw and we go through.
05:57 So it's about managing the game, obviously first and foremost it's about going out and
06:00 putting a performance on and winning but I won't be ashamed if it's a 0-0 and we're in
06:06 the Euros and we're going to represent my country at the finals.
06:12 Gareth, last one from me.
06:13 You've said that England are a very different team now from that final.
06:17 In what way would you pick out?
06:20 Experience, experience of winning big matches, consistent performances.
06:26 We've been ranked in the top five in the world now since 2018 so I don't think there's been
06:33 any other period over the last 30-40 years where that's been the case.
06:38 These boys are consistently producing big nights, memorable nights, good performances,
06:44 exciting performances in general and we want to keep doing that.
06:49 Thank you.
06:50 Hi Gareth, you praised Kyle and Kieran after the game in Scotland, called them warriors.
06:58 They and the senior players are examples of what Italy have been praised for over the
07:03 year and have that know-how of how to win at the international level.
07:07 Very much so.
07:09 You can't fast-track that, you can't just give people experience, it's got to come from
07:16 playing in the big nights, playing in those big matches, the difficult times you go through
07:20 as a player, the challenges that you face as a player, all of that breeds a really experienced
07:30 player.
07:31 But also there are things like communication that on the pitch have such an important factor.
07:38 If a winger's playing in front of these two, they've got full support, so much instruction
07:46 and you become more than just the sum of your parts because that togetherness, the organisation
07:52 it brings, the experience that they bring and the spirit amongst that group.
07:58 So many of that back line in particular have played together so many times, are prepared
08:03 to put their bodies on the line for each other.
08:06 They're intangible things but they're what make winning teams.
08:10 Last week Harry Maguire spoke about the importance of the fan support and you mentioned that
08:15 after the Scotland game as well, how important that he gets a positive reaction from the
08:21 fans tomorrow if he is to play?
08:24 He will.
08:25 The England fans I think are brilliant with him, they were brilliant with him that night.
08:31 I think he's, well the whole team, they're behind the team really.
08:36 We've had a couple of incidents that I don't understand because I don't think any player
08:44 wearing an England shirt warrants that.
08:47 I grew up seeing John Barnes receive that sort of criticism and other players over the
08:52 years so that's never helped the team.
08:56 We should be always about the team and then if you have an opinion about a player outside
09:01 of that, fine, no problem.
09:04 But I think we're all trying to achieve the same thing, we're all trying to create a successful
09:08 England team, have an environment where there's been one of the best connections between the
09:14 team and the public for many a decade and we want to keep doing that.
09:19 Thank you.
09:20 For Kyle, after the game in Scotland that week, Gareth said they're probably your two
09:25 best performances for England, do you feel like you're in the best moment of your career
09:30 right now?
09:31 No, I feel good I think.
09:34 Thank you first and foremost.
09:37 It's just about, as the boss said there, it's about experience, it's about you playing different
09:43 types of matches and you get the crowd and you get different types of environments and
09:47 different situations and me and Tripps do try and coach our wingers as much as possible
09:52 because it makes our life much easier if they're doing their attacking work as they're meant
09:57 to be doing but also the other side of their game which is the defensive work and being
10:01 in the right position, it makes our jobs a lot easier.
10:04 So listen, as I just say what the boss said there, we're trying to create an environment
10:09 that is enjoyable to come and play here and I love coming here, I love coming here still
10:16 at 33 and I want to continue to keep coming here because first and foremost the lads,
10:23 for what we can achieve and we need everyone behind us.
10:27 Everyone that goes onto that field wants to be the man of the match and when the boss
10:33 selects 11 to go onto the field I feel that the whole nation should be behind that team
10:37 to make sure that we can win the game.
10:40 Just on that, your age, there was a lot spoken about your international career and how you
10:43 had to be talked into carrying on, do you have a time in your mind when you think you
10:48 may stop?
10:49 I'm going to keep going forever now.
10:56 If we go back to that final, Chiellini is a figure that stands out, he says that he
11:03 loves you as a player and has been enjoying watching your career.
11:07 What do you remember of that meme moment though of him and Bakayo Saka, he admits that Saka
11:13 outpaced him and he pulled him down and he pulled him down hard and it was the one mistake
11:19 he made of that tournament.
11:22 I haven't seen the meme to be fair, I don't really follow too much on the social media
11:28 and the internet and stuff like that but he's a great player, I think what he's achieved
11:32 and the clubs that he's played for, he speaks for himself.
11:38 We fell short on that night and this is the first time they're coming back to Wembley
11:42 so hopefully we can go out there and put a good performance on and maybe get a little
11:48 bit of payback.
11:49 He also said that many times England arrive at the end of the season at a tournament and
11:56 they're devastated because of the amount of games they've played.
12:00 Pep Foriola, your manager, just said recently that with the build up of the games he's really
12:06 worried for the welfare of players, real concern about the build up and he said there's only
12:11 one solution to change something, maybe if the players decide for themselves to stop.
12:17 Do you agree with him, is it that bigger concern in the dressing room?
12:24 I think we've got used to it over the number of years, especially at club level with me
12:29 that you're playing every three or four days at a maximum so your body actually just comes
12:35 adapted to it.
12:36 Now it's not up to me to rewrite the rules on when football is going to be played or
12:40 not going to be played, I have a job to do whether that's representing my club or country
12:46 to turn up and play the games that I'm chosen to play.
12:50 So as for that I can't really comment if it's right or wrong but when I'm available to play
12:56 and I feel fit then I will give it my all.
12:59 Over the years that you have been playing though, do you believe the number of match
13:03 minutes, the intensity of the game, the number of games, the lack of break is affecting or
13:08 impacting players like never before?
13:11 I think it's always going to, the more you play the more risk of injury and stuff like
13:16 that, especially with the added minutes that are getting on in the Premier League now.
13:20 But I don't think it's for me to start commenting on or questioning, I just have to get on with
13:28 it.
13:29 We play the games and we don't complain and we just keep moving forward.
13:32 Gareth, what was your reaction to Pep Guardiola's words?
13:36 Because I know for an international manager it's really hard to manage the match minutes
13:41 to know what's being asked of players from club to country.
13:45 Now we've got the winter break this season, it's under threat for next season, was it
13:49 refreshing to have a club manager being so strong on it?
13:54 Well I think, I mean we don't really have a winter break here, we fudge something.
14:03 But I think the players are well conditioned, medical and science support is good.
14:12 I'm only repeating what I've said in the past really, we keep adding more and more competitions
14:18 and nobody takes anything out.
14:20 So I think incredible challenge coming up for the clubs that are going to be in the
14:25 Club World Cup and what that will look like and how they'll approach that and then go
14:30 into the following season.
14:33 We are always mindful of the welfare of the players, we want to have our best players
14:39 available for the really important games and even this week we've felt it appropriate to
14:45 manage the group.
14:48 So that's another challenge for us in that we're expected to win games still and produce
14:53 good performances and everything else.
14:56 So we'll never risk players, we have good relationships medically with the clubs, I
15:01 think they trust us to look after their players.
15:04 You can never guarantee anything because contact injuries can happen but we try to reduce that
15:11 possibility as much as we can.
15:12 There's been lots of talk about the Beckham documentary but what's very clear is qualification
15:18 for tournaments was never a regular and certain thing under England.
15:22 How proud are you that you've brought that stability because looking at Italy, back to
15:26 back World Cups that they've failed to qualify?
15:29 Well it's a reminder that we shouldn't ever take it for granted.
15:34 We're in a strong position now and we've still got a little bit to do so we haven't done
15:38 it yet.
15:40 But qualification is like tournaments, tournaments, we're watching the Rugby World Cup which is
15:45 four incredible quarter-finals but the best two teams in the world have gone out in terms
15:51 of rankings, that's how hard it is, you have to deliver at those moments, so many things
15:56 and factors come into it.
15:57 So that is the challenge of international sport really.
16:01 Carl, just a lot of controversy in the build-up to this international break over VAR, your
16:06 manager to your right says he doesn't think it's really improved the situation, what's
16:10 your interpretation of it in your role on the pitch?
16:13 Do you think it's helping the game or would you like to see automatic offsides?
16:19 I like it when it helps us out and I don't like it when it doesn't help us out.
16:24 So I feel that sometimes it does take away the talk about football, when you're talking
16:31 with your mates and was it a goal, was it offside, was it an offside and I feel that
16:36 it does take that out of it but sometimes that obviously does make an error as well,
16:42 which they've come out and said sorry to Liverpool for about that so it's football, there's
16:49 going to be opinions and who's right and who's wrong.
16:53 Care if we look at that final and go back to Euro 2020 and of course the penalties and
16:58 the reaction to them.
17:01 It was such a turning point in this country so when you say with Jordan Henderson you
17:06 don't understand the booing, you can understand why people didn't take those words from you
17:12 too well because you brought a country together against racism, against hate, Jordan Henderson
17:18 was announced at his new club with the rainbow armband blacked out, this is a country that's
17:24 regularly carrying out executions, the Amnesty are trying to highlight.
17:30 Do you understand why there's a little bit of disappointment to those words that you
17:33 don't understand the booing and has that taken out of context and how much has that team
17:38 grown, the lack of markers, of course Pikaio's not here but a regular converting, big pressure
17:44 moments from the penalties.
17:46 Yeah hopefully what I explained at the start would explain why I said I don't understand
17:51 it in that I don't understand why we would boo our own team.
17:57 As I said earlier what I do understand is that people would feel that the decision Jordan
18:02 made to go and play there doesn't align with his strong support of the LGBTQ community
18:08 in the past.
18:11 I've not seen him comment anywhere differently, I don't believe he's an individual whose values
18:17 and principles have changed and I would back him against pretty much everybody in the country
18:23 in terms of what he stands for, what he believes in but I accept that the decision to go and
18:28 play there doesn't align with that.
18:33 So he understands that, he accepts that but I repeat when we're playing for England I
18:46 feel as if everybody should be behind the team but if people choose not to be then we
18:50 have to deal with that.
18:51 And the growth of the players that went through that horrible abuse after the penalties at
18:58 Euros?
19:00 Well it's always adversity and difficulty in your career, people are going to react
19:11 to you very differently and every individual circumstance is unique.
19:18 So it's been a mixed journey for all of them really but I don't think that's just because
19:24 of what happened that night.
19:28 From our perspective it's two years ago, we've had a lot of big nights since then, we've
19:35 played Italy three times since then.
19:38 Yes we've learned from what happened then but also from many, many nights since and
19:44 we're looking forward to tomorrow's game because it's a high level game, two top teams, a full
19:50 house at Wembley, they're the nights you want to be involved in.
19:53 Jon Stone's maiden appearance in the last match, can he start and how much is Mark Gurley
20:02 pushing for that spot if he's not available?
20:05 Well Jon we're working closely with his club in terms of his recovery, he's been out a
20:13 long time so we've got to keep assessing him.
20:16 Mark is doing really, really well, he's played with great maturity in the two games last
20:21 month, he's a very calm player, positionally excellent, at times he might not catch the
20:32 eye in the way that some other players do because he's in the right place so he's not
20:36 having to tear around and cover for something that he's got wrong.
20:41 Composed with the ball, very good mentality so we think he's developing really well.
20:47 Thank you everyone, we'll conclude it there.
20:51 Just a polite note for the broadcasters, if you can promptly pack up and depart it would
20:54 be helpful because we need to use this room for follow-up briefing.
20:57 Thanks very much.
20:58 Thank you.
20:59 Thanks.
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