'Irrelevant': England manager Gareth Southgate addresses Manchester United speculation for the first time as pressure mounts on Erik ten Hag
Gareth Southgate insists he is solely focused on succeeding at Euro 2024 with England amid links with Manchester United.
The Three Lions boss has been heavily linked with a move to Old Trafford as there is speculation over the future of Erik ten Hag.
With Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS taking control of the Red Devils' sporting affairs this season, a new head coach could be next on the agenda after radical changes to the club's hierarchy.
That includes the appointment of Jason Wilcox as technical director and the continued search for Dan Ashworth as sporting director.
With Man United currently eighth in the Premier League, Ten Hag's role has come under scrutiny, but according to Southgate, his sole focus is on this summer's Championship. European Championship in Germany.
Talking to the BBCSouthgate explained: “Well, for me, it's not a problem and it never has been.
“I have to deliver a successful tournament for England and there is enough work involved in that.
“I think everyone would hope that that's where my focus should be.”
Asked about the manchester united work, Southgate added: “There will always be speculation about managers, because if you lose a couple of games you're in trouble; win a couple of games and it's a different agenda.
“But for me (Euro 2024) is a brilliant opportunity. We are looking forward to the tournament.
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“My focus is on how we can go one step further than we did at the last European Championship (when they were defeated on penalties in the final by Italy).”
In a separate interview with ITV, he said: “I'm not a big gambler and the bookmakers, they can make their odds but they're not conversations they've had with me.
“I have one thing to concentrate on. That is to have as successful a tournament as possible with England. Everything else outside of that is completely irrelevant to me.”
Having reached the Euro 2020 final, Southgate will be keen to take another step forward with England.
However, with a contract expiring at the end of the tournament, Southgate's future will continue to be a big topic of conversation throughout the tournament, particularly as the search for a manager at Man United progresses.
Euro 2024 will be his fourth major tournament as England manager and he will begin his campaign against Serbia at the Arena AufSchalke on June 16 before facing Denmark and Slovenia in the remaining Group C matches.
He has experience of club football after spending three years in charge of Middlesbrough from 2006, but is not ready to think about returning to day-to-day coaching at this stage.
Southgate added: “If I start talking about it then I'll be distracted from what I'm doing.
“So I think the country would expect my focus to be on England, and rightly so.
“We've had three tournaments where we've taken the crowd on a brilliant journey. I think we know that and I know you have the desire to go one step further and this is a brilliant opportunity for us to do that.” that.”
