“I asked him why he was benching Kobbie Mainoo because I loved playing with him but this is what he told me and I feltheartbroken “-Declan Rice reveals thee reason why Gareth Southgate keeps snubbing Kobbie Mainoo for Conor Gallagher for England clash which left them confused

Declan Rice has offered his perspective on what improvements England will make in their upcoming match, shedding light on why Kobbie Mainoo might not be included in the starting lineup.

With four points from their initial two matches, England is gearing up for their final group stage game at Euro 2024 against Slovenia. However, the style of play under Gareth Southgate has raised some eyebrows, and it appears, for the first time in many tournaments, that the manager is uncertain about his best lineup.

Southgate experimented with Trent Alexander-Arnold in midfield, and there was speculation that Manchester United’s Kobbie Mainoo or Crystal Palace’s standout Adam Wharton might be included. However, reports from David Ornstein suggest that Southgate plans to replace the Liverpool right-back with Conor Gallagher. This move has puzzled many fans, especially those who saw Mainoo’s impressive performances at Old Trafford last season.

Declan Rice has seemingly provided an explanation for Southgate’s choices. Speaking to ITV ahead of England’s final group match, the Arsenal midfielder defended the manager’s tactics in the initial fixtures, particularly their defensive approach.

Rice highlighted the adjustments made in training this week. “I think in our low block, tactically, we’ve been unbelievable,” he said. “Defensively, we’ve conceded the fewest shots on goal, according to Steve Holland. We’ve got the best defensive record here in terms of stopping crosses, defending balls into the box, being compact and solid. It’s about applying that higher up the pitch, which is something I’ve experienced with England for a long time.”

He acknowledged the criticism but remained optimistic about the changes. “I understand why people think we’ve been tactically off. There have been a few tweaks in training that have made me feel much better. I’m sure you’ll see that in the game as well.”

When asked about the specific areas he believes will improve, Rice responded, “The one thing everyone’s talking about is our high press and our off-the-ball play. You’re going to see a team that is more front-foot, more in-your-face. We’re not going to let the opposition play with the ball as much. We’re going to prove we have that side to our game.”

Southgate’s emphasis on enhancing out-of-possession play justifies his decision to incorporate a hard-working midfielder like Gallagher. While fans and pundits have criticized England’s possession game, especially with Alexander-Arnold in midfield, Southgate seems reluctant to advance with a midfielder whose strength is ball control.

Kobbie Mainoo and Adam Wharton might be left wondering what more they need to do to secure a spot in the team. Southgate may only realize their value too late. In a heartfelt revelation, Rice mentioned, “I asked him why he was benching Kobbie Mainoo because I loved playing with him, but this is what he told me, and I felt heartbroken.”