'I won't outstay my welcome' - Gareth Southgate defends England's style of football ahead of Italy Nations League tie

Gareth Southgate has defended his England team's style of football but says he will not «outstay my welcome» as manager of the national team. After England lost 1-0 to Hungary in their Nations League opener last weekend and were held to a 1-1 draw with Germany in Munich on Tuesday, Southgate has faced criticism for being too conservative with his tactics. Ad/> As the Three Lions' preparations ramp up for the Qatar World Cup with their Group B opener against Iran on November 21 on the horizon, Southgate has responded to his negative critics.

He says he has to achieve a balance when he selects his teams. UEFA Nations League'If it's an embarrassment, it is for England' – Southgate on playing behind closed doors14 HOURS AGO «I’ve got to find a balance because I don’t want to sit and be defensive, but some people have managed teams and others haven’t,» he told reporters ahead of England's behind closed doors Nations League group tie against European champions Italy at Molineux on Saturday evening. «Until you’ve managed teams, you have a different view of the game.

What’s needed to win football matches are the sorts of things [Mason] Mount did on [Joshua] Kimmich that allows other things to happen. »For the man that comes and stands on the terrace and pays his money, I totally understand he wants to see a Grealish with a Sterling with a Saka. But you’ve got to have a balance of the team, this is top-level football.

“I’ve got to manage in the way I see fit. I won’t outstay my welcome but I think I can do a good job for the team, and I think we’ve done a good job for the team. «I think we’ll continue to improve the team, which we have done over a consistent period of time, and we’re also developing young players that will leave