England players 'can't please everyone' - Esme Morgan on fans' demands
- Published
Manchester City defender Esme Morgan is a key part of England's squad
England defender Esme Morgan says players should not be "made to feel bad" for being unable to meet every request from fans who wait for autographs and selfies after games.
Lionesses keeper Mary Earps said it was "hurtful" to hear a parent claim the player had snubbed their child after a Manchester United game last weekend.
Earps, 30, said she had taken time to meet as many fans as she could.
"It's just not possible for us to get round everyone," Morgan said.
"You can't please everyone and you always remember that one person who wasn't happy with you as opposed to all the people whose day you made and they were really grateful.
"We love being able to go over and make someone's day and see how excited people get but with the growth of the game now it's just not really realistic and feasible for us to get round and see everyone."
Manchester City defender Morgan, 23, is part of the England squad which faces a Nations League double header against Belgium over the next week.
The Lionesses, who won the European Championships in 2022 and finished as World Cup runners-up earlier this year, host Belgium in Leicester on Friday before travelling to Leuven on Tuesday.
The success of Sarina Wiegman's team on the international stage, plus the ever-increasing popularity of the Women's Super League, has led to more demands on the players from supporters keen to meet their idols.
After last month's win over Scotland in Sunderland, it was reported, external some fans chanted for the England players to "get off the bus" and meet them.
"It's difficult when sometimes maybe some fans feel like the expectation is that they're going to get to meet you," Morgan said.
"In years gone by that might have been an option, not as many fans were coming to the games so you might be able to get round everyone.
"It is really hard because I'm sure at that age I would have been disappointed and so gutted that I was so close to meeting one of my heroes.
"I think it's nice that we can celebrate the interaction we have with fans but I think it's difficult that, if it's an expectation, players shouldn't be made to feel bad about not getting round to everyone."