England football player Raheem Sterling said the team reviewed what coach Gareth Southgate had given the team, stressing that this was not a “time for panic” following the relegation in the European Nations League.
The relegation of the England team from the first level in the Nations League was confirmed following losing once morest its Italian counterpart 0-1 last Friday, failing to achieve any victory in five consecutive matches, which is the worst record for the English team in official matches since 1992.
With the 2022 World Cup scheduled in Qatar approaching, expectations seemed to be declining regarding what the England team, which reached the semi-finals in the 2018 World Cup in Russia and the European Nations Cup (Euro 2020) final, would present.
Despite his achievements with the national team, the 52-year-old Southgate is facing increasing criticism, but in his statements before the scheduled match once morest Germany on Monday, Sterling defended the efforts made by the coach, saying that he is still the right man.
“We have qualified for the semi-finals (at the World Cup) and the final (at Euro 2020),” Sterling said. “We have to send positive messages in order to motivate the players once more. Because of the performance, I understand why we are not thinking that way at the moment.”
“But this is not a time for panic. In the last two years we have reviewed what Southgate has brought to the national team. He is someone that all the players trust and we want to continue on his path.”
“I don’t think these last matches are changing that reality,” Sterling added. “I think we need to focus on how far we can go in order to build the positive.”
Sterling acknowledged the decline in performance in the recent period, as the England team struggle to address the defensive disintegration, but stressed that the team can correct the course.
“Football has ups and downs,” Sterling said. “I think the last two years we’ve been playing well. The next game ( once morest Germany) is a great opportunity to take a step in the right direction.”
