DRIVEN STER CRAZY
GARETH SOUTHGATE has vowed to investigate the leaks which revealed Raheem Sterling and Joe Gomez's bust-up - preventing him from dealing with the situation internally.
Liverpool defender Gomez was left with a scratch below his eye after tensions boiled over with Manchester City rival Sterling following Sunday's monster game - won 3-1 by the Reds.
2
2
It was then revealed Sterling had been axed for Thursday's Euro 2020 qualifier with Montenegro after the canteen scrap at St George's Park.
Southgate has now slammed the leaks, claiming he would have preferred to have dealt with the situation in private or at least on his own terms.
The Three Lions boss roared: "Now, there seems to be all sorts of information being passed from so many different areas areas.
"This is a consequence of the England football team at the moment and that is a very difficult situation and one that is something we have to think about moving forward.
"[The] team getting out, information getting out... there seems to be so many voices in the background. That is something I have to accept and deal with.
"We are a team. I understand our public profile, there is incredible interest in everything that goes in in our camp, beyond anything in any sporting organisation.
"That’s something we have to deal with, we all have to be aware of and that’s the reality of why things become public that in a club often wouldn’t.
"The detail is not for me to take further. I have said what needs to be said publicly but we have to keep as much as we can between ourselves."
Southgate then revealed his frustration at not being allowed to deal with the situation behind closed doors.
He said: "Should it have been made public or not - in the end when you have made a decision like that it’s going to be public on Wednesday or Thursday anyway and I’d have to deal with it then.
"I’d rather have to deal with it now so we can all focus on the game.
"The decision’s been made, and as a group we are all moving forward and concentrating on the football."
Southgate went on to say the situation involving Sterling and Gomez is understandable given their youthful exuberance and the nature of playing professional sport.
The boss continued: "I am dealing with a very young squad in a sport where emotions often run high.
"Raheem in his post last night explained that for a very brief moment his emotions ran over and it would be correct to say that’s not the same for Joe.
"These things happen in football. Then what you have to find for the group is a way to move forward. That needed time and emotions across the board to calm down.
"We have some excellent senior players who have played a part in bringing everybody together and you need as a manager to see the group are prepared to work together moving forward, that everybody is comfortable with that and that everybody is in the right place.
"My priority is always the care and wellbeing of all of my players, all of my players."
I am the manager, I have certain decisions that are my responsibility and that I was prepared to take.
Southgate on dropping Sterling
Southgate concluded by saying Sterling was dropped in the interest of fairness - while adding he's thrilled with his young squad's work ethic just hours after the bust-up.
The England supremo said: "It's important to always be as fair as possible in any decision, whether that’s a senior or junior player.
"Quite a number of our senior players have been active in discussions during yesterday. That’s an important process because I want to get a feel for where the group are.
"But then I am the manager, I have certain decisions that are my responsibility and that I was prepared to take.
ACCA WITH LADBROKES Pick up a whole load of acca features to help you land the big one
MOST READ IN FOOTBALL
"The decision has been made not to consider him for the game on Thursday, that’s the end of the matter for me.
"We then have to move forward, to keep the group together was the most important thing.
"As emotions calmed yesterday that was possible and everybody worked that through. I am very impressed with the players the way they worked that through."
Joe Gomez emerges for England training at St George’s after bust up with Raheem Sterling