Gibbs-White on England call up and hoping to earn debut cap
embargoed section 1 of 2
4/09/2024
St George's Park, Burton, UK
embargoed section 1 of 2
4/09/2024
St George's Park, Burton, UK
Category
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SportsTranscript
00:00Okay, everyone, good afternoon again and welcome to St. George's Park for this media conference
00:05with Morgan Gibbs-White.
00:06A reminder that the initial part is embargoed until 6 a.m. tomorrow, Thursday, and then
00:11we'll have a short, section-y end embargoed until 10.30 p.m. tomorrow, Thursday.
00:15Again, if we keep it to three questions per person in the first round, if we do have more
00:20time, we'll come back to you.
00:21Rob, do you want to get started?
00:22Huge congratulations.
00:25I mean, look, you're the first Nottingham Forest player to be called up since 1997.
00:30Some chap called Stuart Pearce.
00:31I'm sure you've heard all of this before, but by the sounds of things, there was quite
00:34a reaction in that Forest changing room by your teammates when they heard the news.
00:38Tell us about that.
00:39Yeah, so obviously I got the call in the morning and obviously it was a dream come true.
00:45I've wished for this moment since I was a little boy.
00:48And obviously I got into training and all the boys didn't, because we were in in the
00:52afternoon.
00:53I didn't tell any of the boys.
00:55I wasn't really like, didn't want to know all the pressure.
00:58And then the squad came out just before we went out to train, and all the boys found
01:02out then, and they all went crazy, dancing.
01:05Everyone was happy for me.
01:06So no, the support's been unbelievable.
01:09And you had to keep that secret.
01:10You knew and the players didn't.
01:12Yeah, it wasn't really a secret, but I just wasn't one to bring the attention onto myself.
01:18So obviously when the boys found out, like I said, they went crazy.
01:21They were all happy for me.
01:22So no, it's been incredible support, and you know, I still can't believe it.
01:28It still doesn't feel real.
01:29But no, I'm buzzing to be here.
01:31I just can't wait for the games now.
01:33I think a lot of people have kind of been along the journey with you, because they've
01:36known how much you've wanted this, and you've had to wait for it.
01:38Did you ever doubt that it might never come?
01:41I wouldn't say doubted.
01:45You know, because before you get the actual text, you get a message that you're on the
01:50long list.
01:51And I think I've been getting that message since the Euros 21, since we've won that.
01:56So for about a year and a half, I was getting that message, and it was like waiting to get
02:01called up, waiting to get called off.
02:02And obviously, there's incredible amounts of talent in England, especially with the
02:08players.
02:09So I knew it was just about me being patient, taking my time, concentrating on club level,
02:14and doing the best that I can for Nottingham Forest.
02:16And then fortunately enough, it's come now.
02:19And obviously, I'm so delighted and thankful to the manager for giving me the call-up.
02:23And yeah, just like I said, I can't wait to get going now.
02:26You'll know this is a heck of an achievement in its own right, but the next target is to
02:30try and make your England debut.
02:32And you'll be aware that there's no Jude Bellingham.
02:34Cole Palmer and Phil Foden have both withdrawn from the squad.
02:38They all play in your position.
02:40That won't be something you haven't noticed, I guess.
02:42What do you make of it?
02:43What are you thinking?
02:44They're three incredible names that you've just called out.
02:48It's unfortunate they can't be here.
02:51But no, like I said, I've waited for this opportunity for so long, and I'm going to
02:57try and take it with both hands and hopefully secure my spot here.
03:01But obviously, the main goal is to get promotion from the Nations League.
03:06I believe that's the main goal for the squad right now.
03:09But yeah, like you said, they're probably one of the three best players in the world
03:14right now.
03:15So to be behind them is obviously a good and a bad thing.
03:20But no, I've just got to concentrate on doing what I do best, and just hopefully the chance
03:25comes.
03:26The thing is they're not here.
03:27Does that give you an extra bit of belief and hope?
03:29Yeah, because obviously maybe I might get my chance.
03:34And I'm looking forward to the time when I do.
03:37But no, obviously they're not here for whatever reason.
03:41So yeah, like I said, we're just looking forward to the games now.
03:44Top man.
03:46Hi Morgan.
03:47You know Lee Carsley well from your time in the 21s.
03:51It could be your first game for the England senior team, but it's also his lead in the
03:55senior side.
03:56Is it special to do it at the same time?
03:58Yeah, definitely.
03:59As you said, I've worked with Cars before.
04:02I know how he works.
04:04He's a great manager tactically.
04:06Man management is great.
04:08And I was buzzing when I found out that he got the job, because I felt like he really
04:13deserved it.
04:14And I feel like it suits him perfectly.
04:17So hopefully the games go well for him.
04:20And you never know what the future holds.
04:22Last summer, you were part of the side that won the Under-21 European Championship.
04:26You were a big part of it.
04:28Played some unbelievable football again under Lee Carsley.
04:31Has he spoken to you about how he wants this midfield to play?
04:34Our first session was really only today.
04:37A proper session.
04:39So we haven't got down to the proper tactical side of things.
04:43He spoke briefly on what he wants us to do.
04:46But there's similar parts of what we did in the summer last year that he wants us to do
04:51now.
04:52Like I said, it's a long journey to the World Cup.
04:55But our main focus is on the Nations League and getting promoted from that.
04:58You've had a successful England underage career.
05:01You've won the World Cup.
05:02You've won the Euros.
05:03Do you feel experienced on the international stage, even though you haven't made your senior
05:07debut?
05:09Yeah, I'd say so.
05:10In terms of having a winning mentality and winning trophies at youth level, yeah, I'd
05:15say I'm experienced in that sense.
05:17And that's what I could try and bring to this group, is that winning feeling, that winning
05:21mentality.
05:23So, yeah, like I said, we're looking forward to the games and hopefully we can win all
05:28of them.
05:31Hi, Morgan.
05:32What did Lee say to you and the guys when you all first joined up here?
05:37Just to be yourself, express yourself.
05:40That's the reason why we got the call-up.
05:43You know, especially as well as because he knows us from previous times of working with
05:48him.
05:50I feel like he believes in us, trusts in us.
05:53But no, his words were just express yourself and just be yourself.
05:57How have you found it being around the England senior set-up?
06:02It's been incredible.
06:03All the players have been welcoming.
06:06The senior players, they've all been welcoming.
06:11And no, training's been great.
06:13Just to play with some of the names that are here, it's been unbelievable.
06:16And just learning from them day-to-day is going to be a really good experience for me.
06:20Have you been made to feel welcomed by the senior players?
06:23Yeah, definitely.
06:24As soon as I walked through the door, everyone was happy, smiling and really excited to be
06:30here.
06:31And like I said, training's been unbelievable.
06:33The standard of training is top, top, top tier.
06:37Morgan, congratulations.
06:38I just wonder what the little boy at Stafford Juniors would have thought of this moment?
06:44Yeah, I didn't quite believe I'd make it to this moment, probably at that age.
06:50At that age, you just want to play football, enjoy it.
06:53And then obviously when it starts getting serious, you start getting dreams and hopes.
06:57And the call-up was one of the main dreams and goals for me growing up.
07:03And now I've got it.
07:04I'm over the moon.
07:05Still to this day, lost for words.
07:07A lot of those close to you with tears in their eyes, I expect.
07:10Yeah, especially my missus and parents.
07:13They were both in tears, because they know how long I've wanted this.
07:21So yeah, it was a special moment for all my family.
07:24They're over the moon and the support from them has been second to none.
07:28And I just wonder, finally, if you think this could be the start of a new era for Nottingham
07:33Forest, with players joining the club and thinking that they can use it to get on to
07:39the international stage too?
07:41Yeah, definitely.
07:43Obviously, I've done it now and I believe that there's a few others that can definitely
07:48push on and try and get the call-up.
07:51I believe we've got a really good group right now.
07:54The belief in the squad is really high.
07:57We've started the season really good.
07:59We haven't lost a game yet, so we're going with that mentality for the rest of the season,
08:03that we believe in ourselves and we believe we should be right up there.
08:06Brilliant, thank you.
08:07Are there any further questions in this section?