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Phil Foden says he ‘feels sorry’ for Gareth Southgate and England players have to take blame

"There is only so much the manager can do."

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 4th July 2024

Phil Foden has admitted in an honest recent interview that he “feels sorry” for England manager Gareth Southgate.

The Manchester City star, who is currently forming a crucial part of England‘s 26-man squad at UEFA Euro 2024 out in Germany, has given his take on the team’s underwhelming performances at European football’s flagship tournament, following their last-minute win against Slovakia in the round of 16 last Sunday night (30 June).

Ahead of the Three Lions facing Switzerland in the Quarter Finals this Saturday (6 July), the Stockport-born forward says the players in the squad “have got to take some of the blame” for the team’s performances.

Ultimately, the 24-year-old says he “feels sorry” for manager Gareth Southgate.

Speaking in a hard-hitting interview this week, Foden explained: “There has to be some leaders to get together and find out a solution to why it is not working, because there is only so much the manager can do.

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“He sets you up in a system and tells you how to press, and if it’s not going like that, then you have to [work it out].”

Then, when asked about the pressure on Southgate throughout tournament so far, and going into Saturday’s crucial Quarter Final – which kicks off at 5pm – he gave his honest opinion on the situation, explaining: “I feel sorry for Gareth. In training, he has been telling us to press and be high up on the pitch, and I feel like sometimes, it has to come from the players.

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“We have to be leaders. In games we could have got together a little bit more and worked out a solution.

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“So yes, we have spoken about it more. If it happens again in a game, we can get together and find a solution, see where it is going wrong and adapt our press.”

Featured Image – Phil Foden (via Instagram)