‘Heartbreaking’ – Gareth Southgate reacts to Dele Alli and Aaron Ramsdale revelations
Gareth Southgate has expressed his sadness upon hearing the recent revelations about Dele Alli and Aaron Ramsdale’s personal lives. Both players have faced challenges behind the scenes, despite their success in football.
In a candid interview with Gary Neville, Alli bravely shared that he had experienced sexual abuse as a child and was forced into dealing drugs. Ramsdale, on the other hand, wrote about his wife’s miscarriage in the Players’ Tribune.
Speaking on talkSPORT to Jim White and Stuart Pearce, Southgate emphasized the importance of not judging players without knowing the full story. As a manager, he understands the complexities of their lives and the obstacles they have overcome. He referenced Paul Gascoigne’s autobiography, where people criticized him for wasting his talent, but Gascoigne believed it was a miracle he achieved what he did.
Southgate acknowledged that as coaches, they try to support and help players with their personal problems. He commended Alli for seeking rehab and taking control of his life. He expressed hope that Alli can get back on track, both personally and professionally.
Regarding Ramsdale, Southgate revealed that he was unaware of the anguish the goalkeeper and his wife went through during the World Cup in Qatar. Ramsdale’s wife suffered a miscarriage while he was away with the England team. Southgate, who had met Ramsdale’s wife in Qatar, was heartbroken to learn about the tragedy.
Southgate concluded by highlighting the fact that managers often deal with such personal issues more frequently than people realize. He expressed his sadness for both Alli and Ramsdale and hoped for their well-being moving forward.
In addition to the interview, the article also mentioned talkSPORT’s new match center, which provides up-to-date information on football fixtures, results, and standings. It includes links to Premier League fixtures and tables, as well as all other fixtures and league tables.
English football team manager, Gareth Southgate, has spoken out in response to the latest revelations about England talent Dele Alli and Aaron Ramsdale.
The extent of the two players’ injuries was confirmed by Southgate during a live press conference and he rejected the notion that the news was a ‘blip’. He said we needed to be “realistic” in our attitude to the situation and instead insisted that the injury news was “heartbreaking”.
Alli is nursing a hamstring injury that he sustained during a warm-up session before England’s game against Iceland, while Ramsdale is dealing with a hip complaint that requires extended treatment. Southgate believes that the timing of these injuries could not have been worse, coming days before the Nations League kicks off. Southgate admitted that the players have been “very aggrieved”, but he insisted that the team will be “finely assessing” their “longer term solutions”.
He further expressed his sympathy for the pair, saying: “It’s heartbreaking for them. They’re two of the most exciting young players, so of course this news is a huge blow. It’s tough for them, but I’m sure they’re determined to work hard and come back even stronger.”
Southgate managed to remain optimistic about the situation and discussed the possibility of releasing some of the younger players from the Under-21 squad, such as Ben Godfrey and Ryan Sessegnon, who could potentially step up to fill the gaps left by Alli and Ramsdale.
The manager concluded by reiterating his disappointment at the current situation, but he remained adamant that the team will bounce back and will be stronger for the experience.