England Boss Southgate Reacts To Man United Links

As pressure rises on current Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag, England manager Garth Southgate has responded to links with the position.

Due to the Dutchman’s dismal second season as Manchester United’s manager, there have been rumours that the Red Devils’ upper management may fire the coach at the end of the current campaign. The most frequently brought up name in the discussion of possible replacements has been Southgate, who insists he is totally focused on England because the Euros begin in less than a month, even though he wouldn’t rule out a transfer later on.

READ ALSO: Man United Urged To Sack Ten Hag & Bring In Ex-England Coach

Speaking to ITV News, Southgate said [via The Telegraph]: “I’ve got one thing to focus on. That’s having as successful a tournament with England as possible. Everything else outside of that is a complete irrelevance to me.”

On whether the links are a distraction for him, he told the BBC: “Well, for me, it’s not an issue and never has been. I have to deliver a successful tournament for England and there’s enough work involved in that. I think everybody would expect that’s where my focus should be.

“There will always be speculation about managers because if you lose a couple of games, you’re in trouble – you win a couple of games and it is a different agenda.

“But for me, it [Euro 2024] is a brilliant opportunity. We’re looking forward to the tournament. My focus is on how do we go a step further than we went in the last Euros [when they were beaten on penalties in the final by Italy].”

Southgate’s current Three Lions contract expires in December, and as is to be expected for a coach of his calibre, teams that may consider looking to replace their present coach have expressed interest in hiring him. Among such teams is Manchester United, who, given their current Premier League standing of seventh, appear destined to miss out on playing in Europe the following season. Though soon-to-be-former Bayern Munich manager Thomas Tuchel is thought to be the front-runner, it has been stated that Southgate will be considered for the position despite his lack of awards. It’s also not completely ruled out that Erik ten Hag will continue.

With several difficult decisions ahead of him, the England manager will be trying to confirm his travelling team for the European Championship in Germany. The Three Lions’ first match of the Euros is against Serbia on June 16.