Speaking on the Wrighty’s House Podcast, Ian Wright has been discussing Aston Villa’s Jack Grealish and Gareth Southgate’s interaction after England’s win over Ukraine.
The Three Lions were on top form against Ukraine on Saturday. They blew them away with a 4-0 win, but sadly, Grealish didn’t get on the pitch.
However, after the game, Southgate was having a word with Grealish, something that the podcast’s host picked up on and told Wright about.
What’s been said?
Wright had a conversation about Southgate and Grealish’s interaction after full-time against Ukraine.
“At full-time he grabbed Jack Grealish and he was in his ear for ages, and I was like, he’s telling him he’s going to play in the next game, and he’s telling him why he didn’t play him,” The podcast’s host informed Wright.
“I love that, I didn’t see that, what was Jack’s vibe?” Wright asked.
“It wasn’t gnarly or anything, it looked to me as if he said, ‘I didn’t bring you on today, I know you’re disappointed, but you’re going to play the next one’.” The podcast’s host replied.
“He must have said something to that effect, of you have a big part to play in that next game don’t worry,” Wright concluded.
Great manager
For all of the stick Gareth Southgate has had over the past 12 months, he’s shown at this tournament that he’s a great manager.
It’s so difficult to manage a squad of 26 talented footballers who all think they should be playing a part at the Euros, but he’s somehow struck the right balance with his top stars.
It would have been so easy for Grealish to feel alienated after being left on the bench for the quarter-final, but one swift conversation after full-time will have calmed a lot of those nerves.
Fingers crossed Wright’s analysis is correct and Grealish does start against Denmark on Wednesday.
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