Gareth Southgate is searching for the right word, the Trent Alexander-Arnold question on his lips. And it does not come easily, which speaks to the overall dynamics of the situation, the history of it, as well. “A lot of time with England, it’s been a difficult … not relationship because I’ve always got on well with him,” the manager says.
Southgate is talking after England’s 4-0 Euro 2024 qualifying win in Malta on Friday night and there is an instinctive reaction – call it self‑defence – when he worries that the conversation might be veering into personal territory. Because this has been a part of it, at least with regard to popular perception. “Gareth doesn’t like Trent. That’s why he doesn’t pick him.”
