England manager Gareth Southgate spoke on a number of topics during England's pre-match press conference against Denmark in the second round of the Europa League group stage.
Responding to Danish goalkeeper Junior Schmeichel's claim that England are stronger than they were in the Euro 2020 semi-finals, Southgate said that England will have to prove it in the actual tournament. He acknowledged that the team has good players and is capable of performing better than in previous matches. At the same time, he praised the players for their excellent start under pressure and their defensive performance throughout the game.
Speaking about Bellingham, the new star of the team, Southgate was not short of praise. He said it was a pleasure to work with Bellingham, appreciating his continuous improvement and great mentality as a top player. Southgate also compared Bellingham to Wayne Rooney, a legend in the history of English soccer, showing his high recognition of his potential.
Speaking about the importance of mentality to the game, Southgate believes that mentality is a key factor in determining victory or defeat. He emphasized that the ability to play in big matches depends on the team's mentality, an aspect that England has particularly excelled at over the past few years.
Southgate spoke highly of his upcoming opponents, Denmark. He praised Danish skipper Juleman for being an excellent coach and that the Danish team is usually highly adaptable. Southgate said he has always had respect for Danish soccer, especially after their impressive performance in the last Euro. He emphasized that England will have to produce their best performance to win the tournament.
In addition, Southgate has spoken out on topics such as Luke Shaw's injury, handling of social media and match pressure, and England's performance against Serbia. He revealed that Luke Shaw is recovering but will not play in tomorrow's game. On social media and match pressure, Southgate said he cuts off contact with the outside world to stay focused and emphasized that keeping his players focused is his priority. Finally, he believes that England's performance against Serbia needs to be improved and that the team needs to do better in both defense and offense.
