England women's football manager Sarina Wiegman has broken her silence on the public fallout with former goalkeeper Mary Earps, stating she makes decisions purely to win matches and tournaments. The comments come after Earps detailed the breakdown of their relationship in her recently released autobiography.
The Goalkeeping Controversy Explained
The dispute centres on Wiegman's decision to recall Hannah Hampton to the England squad ahead of last summer's European Championships in Switzerland. In her book, All In: Football, Life and Learning to be Unapologetically Me, Mary Earps criticised this move, suggesting the manager was rewarding bad behaviour by selecting the previously dropped younger goalkeeper.
Hampton subsequently usurped Earps as Wiegman's starting goalkeeper and became one of the tournament's standout players. Her performance peaked in the final against world champions Spain, where she saved two crucial penalties to help England retain their trophy.
Wiegman's Unapologetic Stance
When questioned about the situation, Wiegman was resolute in her defence. She confirmed she hasn't spoken to Earps since the book's publication but stands by her original decision.
I make decisions to win, Wiegman stated emphatically. She elaborated that the team had two incredible goalkeepers competing for the number one spot, and she simply made the selection she believed would best serve the team's success.
The England boss admitted she would handle the situation identically if presented with the same scenario again. I couldn't control the behaviours of others, only my own, she remarked, adding that in the bigger picture she doesn't believe she would have done things differently.
Maintaining Team Environment
Wiegman emphasised her commitment to maintaining a professional environment where players feel they can approach her. She explained that while she keeps individual conversations private to build trust, her door is always open for discussion.
We create an environment where we want people to be themselves, Wiegman said, noting that everyone is different and that approach helps connect people both on and off the pitch.
Despite the current tension, Wiegman reflected positively on her time working with Earps, acknowledging they shared incredible times together and that she had enjoyed working with the accomplished goalkeeper during their partnership.
