England star Luke Shaw explains what Gareth Southgate told players after Italy defeat

England v Italy: Match in pictures

We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info

England star Luke Shaw has opened up on what Gareth Southgate told players after their Euro 2020 final defeat to Italy on Sunday. The Manchester United defender opened the scoring for the Three Lions in just the second minute. But Leonardo Bonucci equalised and Robert Mancini’s side went on to win via a penalty shootout.

It was a crushing night for England, whose wait for a first major trophy since 1966 goes on.

And Shaw has now revealed Southgate tried to lift the players in the dressing room after the game, urging them to hold their heads up high.

He said: “He just said keep our heads up, it’s just one of them.

“It’s not much he could say apart from, ‘keep your heads up’. He said what a fantastic group everyone is a part of and things are going in the right direction.

“We’re all really gutted and it hurts a lot.

“The squad in general, the togetherness is definitely there, it’s clear you could see that even after the game with that huddle, the way we were with the lads who missed, we were all together there.

THINK YOU KNOW SPORT? Test your sporting knowledge with our tricky quiz

“We win as a team, we lose as a team, we all lost tonight.”

Shaw also revealed Bukayo Saka was ‘devastated’ after missing the decisive penalty in the shootout.

“He’s devastated, but the most important thing is for us now as a team to be there for him and give him a big hug,” he said.

“I told him to keep his head up, it happens, anything can happen in a penalty shootout, as a lot of people know.

“It’s an experience he’ll learn from, he knows that. It’s not just him, though, Rashy and Sanch as well, we’re with them all, we win as a team, we lose as a team, there are no individuals that cost [us] that.”

Shaw also said: “It is devastating, it’s gutting, it’s not what we wanted.

DON’T MISS

Pogba price set as Man Utd settle on replacement

Barcelona’s strong XI with Ronaldo and two other signings

England have four heroes rise up in Denmark win

“I think we were very confident about today, we felt in a good way, we felt we were going in the right direction with performances.

“It was devastating, we gave everything we could but we’ve come up short.

“It’s a step in the right direction of what we want to achieve, a final, first time in history that’s happened [in the European Championship], but from not just me, but the team, it’s not enough.”

Meanwhile, Jose Mourinho has opened up on Shaw’s performance at Euro 2020 – and lavished praise on the United star.

“Because people think I don’t like Luke Shaw, I have to say, amazing tournament. A fantastic final,” he told talkSPORT.

“No defensive mistakes. Very solid. On top of that he improved and improved, and improved.

“He scored a goal that doesn’t mean much but for him, for his career, for the way he grew up, very good. Very good Luke Shaw.”

Mourinho also admitted he may have been too harsh on Shaw during their time at Old Trafford.

“I always tried to find what I considered to be the weakness of the player and sometimes I’m successful, other times I’m not,” he said.

“Other times I can create empathy with the player and get the best out of them.

“Other times the best way to get the best out of them is not to create empathy and is to try to to create some friction and to put pressure on the player.

“Maybe I was too harsh with him and he was not ready for that.

“The injury was such an incredible injury but I think in this moment where the country looks to him, and deservedly, as a left-back for the national team.

“From my side, I can only say congratulations to him because he did it by himself. For sure with the help and support of his coaches in the club and in the national team.

“I still think that he has more to give because his potential is good and now he is defending well, he knows how to defend space inside which was a weakness for him.

“His defence transition when he goes forward and the team loses the ball, his recovery back, he shows a much better intensity.

“Going forward he is more confident, better crosses.”

Source: Read Full Article