Sarina Wiegman said that former England goalkeeper Mary Earps’ perspective surrounding her decision to retire from international competition could be “different” from her own.
England head coach Wiegman was speaking for the first time since Earps, who earned 53 senior caps before retiring from international duty in May, released her autobiography ‘All In’, in which she appeared to criticise Wiegman’s decision to make Hannah Hampton her No 1 goalkeeper.
Earps, 32, said that when Wiegman selected Hampton to start against Ireland in April 2024, she told the head coach that “bad behaviour is being rewarded.” In her book, Earps says Hampton’s behaviour during the 2022 European Championships would risk sending training sessions off course.
The Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper also says she told Wiegman that she felt she “could have been more direct and honest” over her decision to make Hampton No 1.
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Wiegman said: “We always have those conversations, conversations with different players all the time. What my reality is, someone else’s reality can be different because how we experience things is very individual.
“I want to create an environment where we speak up, where I give clarity, where I always communicate with players, where it’s necessary.
“I make decisions to win. I always said we have two incredible goalkeepers in the group and in the end I made that decision. I can’t say anymore on that.
“I really enjoyed working with Mary. She’s retired now and we had incredible times and I’ll always cherish that.”
Earps was Wiegman’s clear first-choice goalkeeper throughout the victorious 2022 Euros and 2023 run to the World Cup final, playing every game of both tournaments. Both Earps and Hampton played for England in the year leading up to England’s European title defence in 2025, but Hampton started two consecutive matches in April.
Earps says in her book that after meeting with Wiegman in April, she let her know she was planning to retire. She announced her international retirement in the weeks before the tournament.
The goalkeeper’s book prompted plenty of of discussion, with Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor accusing her of disrespect due to her comments on Wiegman and Chelsea’s Hampton.
England will play friendlies against China on November 29 and against Ghana on December 2, Wiegman saying that she is not worried about the squad being divided ahead of those games.
“I n teams, there’s always dynamics going on, she said. “We’re working with people and everyone’s different so no matter what topic there is, there’s always conversations going on.
“I want my door to be open at all times to have conversations when that’s needed or when someone needs support.”