Beleaguered Gareth Southgate says he’s ‘not hiding’ as England look to end five-game winless run against Germany

DEFIANT Gareth Southgate says he “won’t hide” and has never doubted he’ll turn things round as struggling England host Germany on Monday.

The Three Lions enter their last game before the World Cup winless for five matches and demoted to the Nations League second-tier after Friday’s 1-0 loss in Italy.

PA

Gareth Southgate insisted he is still confident as he faced the press with striker Raheem Sterling, who said the England squad back their manager[/caption]

But boss Southgate claims he always knew he’d come under fire at some stage and believes he has the “experience” needed to resolve England’s many serious questions.

He said: “I’m fortunate that I’m now sadly in my 50s, I have been in football for 30 years and I have gone in one guise or another to 12 tournaments.

“This will be my seventh as player or a coach, so I have seen pretty much everything.

“The cycle of war with the media, the love-in – we are somewhere in the middle of that.

“It is an experience that I knew at some point would probably come with this job so I have to accept that.”

England conclude their dire Nations League at Wembley against a Germany side who must win to have a chance of displacing Hungary as group winners.

It follows the Three Lions being booed off in Turin on Friday after a disjointed defeat.

England appeared uncomfortable with five at the back – Bukayo Saka operating unusually deep at left-wing-back – and threatened little.

HOW TO GET FREE BETS ON FOOTBALL

Southgate said of the fans’ reaction: “Look, I’m the manager.

“The results haven’t been at the level we want, that we require, so no matter what job you have in football that would be the case.

“Of course with the national team that noise is going to be louder and more widespread, I understand that.

“I’m not hiding from it, we are not enjoying it but we have to keep doing the right things every day to keep improving.”