LONDON: England coach Gareth Southgate said speculation linking him with the manager鈥檚 position at Manchester United currently occupied by Erik ten Hag was 鈥渃ompletely disrespectful鈥� and insisted on Friday he wouldn鈥檛 begin talks over another job while in charge of the national team.
Sections of the British media have reported that Southgate could be in the running to replace ten Hag if the Dutchman loses his job following the arrival of Jim Ratcliffe and his INEOS team that will oversee the club鈥檚 soccer operations.
Southgate has a contract to coach England through December and he said his focus was on leading his national team at the European Championship in Germany in June.
Speaking on Friday ahead of England鈥檚 friendly against Brazil at Wembley Stadium on Saturday, Southgate responded to a reporter鈥檚 question about the links to United that have spread this week.
鈥淭here are two things,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 am the England manager. I have got one job basically, to try and deliver a European Championship. Clearly, before that, two important games this week (against Brazil and then Belgium on Tuesday).
鈥淭he second thing is Manchester United have a manager, and I think it is always completely disrespectful when there is any speculation about a manager that is in place. I am president of the League Managers鈥� Association. I don鈥檛 have any time for that sort of thing.鈥�
Southgate said his focus was only on Euro 2024.
鈥淚f we (agreed to) a contract (with the Football Association) before, everyone would be saying, 鈥榃hy are you signing a contract before a Euros where you鈥檝e got to prove yourself?鈥欌€� Southgate posed.
鈥淚 am certainly not going to speak to anybody else ahead of that. I never have. I have been eight years in the job. I wouldn鈥檛 entertain speaking to anybody else when I am in a job.鈥�