Areth Southgate has admitted his England contract will not protect him from the sack if his side come up short in Qatar this winter and says he is “realistic” about his chances of fulfilling his 2024 deal.
Southgate’s previous contract was due to expire after this winter’s World Cup, but in November he agreed a new deal to lead England to the next European Championship after leading them to the Euro 2020 final last summer.
The manager is under pressure ahead of England’s final pre-World Cup game against Germany on Monday after being booed by supporters for the second game in a row since the 1-0 defeat by Italy in Milan on Friday.
The result condemned England to relegation from the Nations League and left them without a win in five competitive games for the first time since 1992.
Asked about his plans after the World Cup, Southgate said: “I’m not stupid. My only focus right now is to build the right team [the Germany game] tomorrow and then we focus on a good performance and a good result.
“I know that in the end I will be judged by what happens at the World Cup. Contracts are irrelevant in football because managers can have three, four, five-year contracts and you accept that if the results are not good enough, it’s time to go your separate ways.
“Why should I be different? I’m not arrogant enough to think my contract will protect me in any way.
There were boos when Southgate went to cheer on the traveling San Siro fans on Friday, while he was jeered by Molyneux’s supporters during England’s last home game, the 4-0 defeat by Molyneux’s Hungary in June.
The Football Association remains firmly behind the 52-year-old, who also led England to the semi-finals at the last World Cup in Russia, and there is no doubt he will be sacked before Qatar – even if the Three Lions fail to win for a sixth competitive game for the first time in the story.
“I am absolutely grateful to [the FA’s support]Southgate added.
“But of course we understand how sentiment changes with results and it has. I’m realistic about that and I’m going to be judged on what we do in Qatar and I’m perfectly happy to be judged that way.
“History is history and you are judged in the next game and the next tournament.”