Gareth Southgate issues telling response to ‘personal ridicule’ from England critics

Gareth Southgate has led England to their third major semi-final during his spell in charge of the Three Lions having faced severe criticism on social media from supporters throughout Euro 2024

Gareth Southgate says he is using the “personal ridicule” against him to fuel England’s charge for Euros glory.

Southgate has become the first England boss to reach three semi finals in major tournaments and admits that he finds some of the criticism as “beyond belief.”

Former England players have piled in on Southgate during the Euros while there are thousands of memes of him online together with pictures, abuse and messages.

The Football Association is acutely aware of AI being used to mock Southgate and change his words during fake press conferences talking about his players. It has reached crazy levels during this tournament and has even seen fans throw beer at Southgate after the goalless draw with Slovenia.

But England now have a Euros semi final with Holland in Dortmund on Wednesday night and Southgate says he is using the abuse to drive him on. Southgate said: “Look, I can’t deny that some of the personal nature… this is a job where you get ridiculed, and your professional capability is questioned beyond belief, and I don’t think it’s normal to have beer thrown at you either.

“But I’m fortunate that my life’s taken me through a lot of resilience-building and it’s made me more determined and I’m just using it as fuel. I know where I want to take the team to, and, yeah, the team need to see me strong in those moments as well, otherwise that messaging that you’re giving them on what they need to be, it doesn’t ring true.”

Former England stars like Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer, both BBC pundits, have slammed Southgate and his tactics during the tournament.

Gareth Southgate has faced severe criticism in Euro 2024 ( 
Image:
Getty Images)
England needed a penalty shoot-out to get past Switzerland but Southgate insisted he is not bothered about getting more respect or credit for his achievements during his eight year reign.

Suthgate added: “For me that doesn’t matter, the fact is we’re there, for the group of players and staff that are so focused on it, and wanting to go the next step, it really doesn’t matter.

“We’re still in there, it’s where we wanted to be at this point, we’re showing signs of improvement, in the way that we’ve played and… yeah, we’ve got to keep doing it.”

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