FRANCE 98 – General Media News Template

Paul Gascoigne needs an understanding arm around his shoulder rather than a slap on the wrist, sports psychologist Professor Cary Cooper says.

Gascoigne is likely to fall foul of England coach Glenn Hoddle after being photographed out on the town in the early hours of Sunday morning before the national side’s latest get-together. But Cooper feels allowances should be made for Gascoigne because of his highly-strung personality.

“I’m not saying we should tolerate everything he does, but I think we should be more tolerant because of the kind of person he is,”   said Cooper.

“Gascoigne is one of those very creative and very talented sports people. They are highly motivated and highly driven for a whole load of reasons.”  Gascoigne has enormous energy levels and you must expect this to come out in one form or another particularly in stressful conditions. “It’s all about managing pressure at this level. Some people can control this and just release it on the field, but others get rid of it in different ways.”Gascoigne finds it hard to focus this energy just on football. But if you want highly-talented people then it’s only right to expect some of them to be a bit different. “It’s up to Glenn Hoddle if he wants to criticise him because that’s his job, but it’s not right to highlight everything he does.” Cooper feels the Middlesbrough ace’s performances on the pitch could suffer if he has to continue living under this microscope until after the World Cup.

He thinks Gascoigne can play a leading role for England in France and so deserves the backing of the country.

“This is a real pressure time for him,”   he said. “He’s just moved clubs and now he’s playing in the World Cup. I think we should not jump on him every time he does something and he needs the nation’s support. “He’s quite a sensitive guy and when people criticise him it affects him. Rather than get on his back we should support him and understand his idiosyncrasies.”