Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger urges Football Association to overlook big names and give England job to Gareth Southgate
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has urged the Football Association to overlook more glamorous names from the world of football management and give the England job to Gareth Southgate.
Southgate is halfway through a four-game audition for the role, having been placed in temporary charge following the sudden departure of Sam Allardyce after just one match.
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“I believe he has accumulated experiences now,” said Wenger, who played down his own interest in the job.
“That is the difficulty in England: there is always the demand for the big names. The most important thing is competence. I’m happy he has an opportunity. We are in a job where people question, especially when you don’t have much experience, and the only answer he can give is by showing the decisions he makes are right.”
Wenger also pledged to keep right-back Hector Bellerin, who is the subject of interest from Barcelona and Manchester City, and revealed that midfielder Aaron Ramsey and striker Olivier Giroud would both remain sidelined for Saturday’s Premier League visit of Swansea.
Swansea enjoy Bradley boost
The Welsh side’s new manager Bob Bradley, meanwhile, believes his appointment has lifted a team who are winless since the opening day of the season.
“Even at a time in a season when it’s been difficult, when there’s been managerial change, you see enthusiasm and a certain amount of excitement,” said the American.
“That doesn’t automatically mean because you’ve changed some things everything’s going to come together right away. But it’s a start.”