In response to Ben White’s decision to make himself unavailable for England duty this month, England manager Gareth Southgate spoke candidly about the situation, emphasizing the importance of maintaining credibility as a manager.
White, despite delivering commendable performances for Arsenal in recent weeks, was notably absent from the England squad announced on Thursday for the upcoming friendlies against Brazil and Belgium.
Southgate revealed that the 26-year-old defender, who hasn’t featured for England since departing from the World Cup camp in November 2022, had requested not to be considered for selection.
“I don’t think it would be right not to state the situation we’re in,” Southgate conveyed to reporters. “We’ve explained to Arsenal we were going to do that. And if you make a decision like that, you do have to stand by it.”
Acknowledging the significance of credibility in his role as manager, Southgate emphasized that overlooking an in-form player like White would severely undermine his standing. “While I do not have huge credibility,” Southgate remarked, “there would be none if I didn’t pick him on form.”
Despite White’s absence, England is gearing up to host Brazil on March 23 and Belgium three days later at Wembley Stadium, presenting an opportunity for other players to step up and showcase their talents on the international stage.
