There have been reports circulating in the media, that Gareth Southgate England’s coach is not on good terms with Manchester City player, Phil Foden.
This rumor was fueled by Gareth’s decision to bench Foden in England’s two games at the 22 World Cup in Qatar, Foden has only featured for 19 minutes for the Three Lions of England, considering his outstanding performance with Manchester City, people expected Gareth to put him among the start-up team.
England’s Midfielder, Jack Grealish has come out to debunk such rumors. According to him, several reports came out that Gareth disliked Jack, and even Maddison too, but they all saw that Grealish had no problem with them. He further disclosed that Grealish has no issue with Foden, as he relates to Foden as he relates with every other player on the team.
“People always used to say, ‘Ah, he is got a problem with Jack’ last year or two years ago, and then I come on and it is like, ‘Oh, he likes Jack now, who is it next?’” Grealish told BBC Sport.
“And then I know people were saying, ‘He doesn’t like Madders (James Maddison)’ and now Madders is in, so it is fine with him, and then Phil didn’t play, so it is like, ‘He’s got a problem with Phil’.
“He has not got a problem with anyone. He speaks to all of us the same.
“If you are not playing – Phil didn’t play the other night – he is still the same with Phil as he was with me when I came on or Harry Kane.
“He has not got a problem with anyone. If he did have a problem with someone, you would know about it.”
England started the 2022 World Cup on a good note, as they thrashed Iran 6-2, with Bukayo Saka bagging the man of the match award. However, their second game didn’t turn out as the first one, as they held the USA to a Goalless draw.
