To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders

Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications

Jose Mourinho Insists Gareth Southgate Should 'Change Three Of Four Players' For England's Huge Clash With Ukraine

Jose Mourinho Insists Gareth Southgate Should 'Change Three Of Four Players' For England's Huge Clash With Ukraine

Speaking ahead of the Ukraine match, Jose Mourinho claims the "semi-final will be much more difficult than the quarter-final" for England.

Adnan Riaz

Adnan Riaz

Jose Mourinho has identified "three of four players" that Gareth Southgate should rest for England's quarter-final clash with Ukraine.

England topped Group D at Euro 2020 to set up a huge last-16 clash against Germany at Wembley on Tuesday.

Goals from Raheem Sterling and Harry Kane secured a sensational 2-0 win for England as Germany were dumped out of the Euros.

England, who are considered as one of the favourites at Euro 2020, will now clash with Ukraine on Saturday at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.

Speaking ahead of the Ukraine match, Mourinho revealed that he would rest Manchester United captain Harry Maguire for the quarter-finals.

Maguire, 28, missed England's Euro 2020 opener against Croatia as he recovered from an ankle injury.

The England international was on the bench for the 0-0 draw against Scotland, but Maguire has since returned to the heart of the Three Lions' defence.

Mourinho also believes that Declan Rice or Kalvin Phillips could be rested for the Ukraine match, with Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson being called into the midfield.

PA

PA

Read More:

Southgate has opted for a midfield partnership of Rice and Phillips for England's Euros campaign, but Mourinho believes that only one of them is needed to beat Ukraine.

Speaking on talkSPORT, Mourinho said: "I can answer without any pressure. I would say rest them both. You don't need Rice and Phillips to beat Ukraine. Maximum one of them is needed.

"Jordan Henderson, I want to believe is in condition to play. You have other players with fresh conditions and desire and motivation to play.

"The way Rice finished the game, he was completely exhausted, cramps! I believe that the semi-final will be much more difficult than the quarter-final.

"England don't need to take some of their players to extreme situations of fatigue. A rest to Rice and Phillips would be fantastic, then to play in the semi-finals and final in the maximum of potential.

"But that's me speaking. I have zero pressure and zero responsibility! If I tried to guess what Gareth will do, I'd say Jordan Henderson plus one of Rice or Phillips.

PA

"I would not change the spine of the team -- that would be too risky but I would for sure change three of four players because to beat Ukraine you can do it with any of England's players.

"Maguire didn't have a good preparation to the tournament so, I think this would be the perfect opportunity for Maguire to take a rest. The rest wouldn't mean not to take the yellow card to stop him playing in the semi-final but also not an accumulation of fatigue in a player.

"The two engines in midfield, to lose both would be complicated. You can manage losing one but from a fatigue point of view I would try, using the technology they have, to make a decision about which one needs more of a rest.

"But Rice and Phillips for the semi-final and final 100 per cent have to be on the pitch. I'm not disappointed with anyone. Everybody is doing a team job."

Featured Image Credit: PA/talkSPORT

Topics: Jose Mourinho, Football, Euro 2020, UEFA, England, Gareth Southgate