COUNTY KILDARE, Ireland (Reuters) – England are not looking for a fresh start under interim manager Lee Carsley, who is eager to build on what the team have achieved prior to his arrival as they kick off their Nations League campaign against Ireland on Saturday.
Former Ireland midfielder Carsley, appointed England’s interim manager following Gareth Southgate’s resignation after the recent European Championship, will make his debut against a team that he represented as a player 40 times.
The Euro 2024 finalists are facing their first season in the competition’s second-tier League B after they were relegated having failed to win a single game during their 2022-23 campaign.
“I definitely don’t see this as a fresh start,” Carsley told a press conference on Friday.
“I spoke about it before in terms of taking over a team as a caretaker manager low on confidence, low down the league and struggling. This is the total opposite to that. This is a team coming off the back of a tournament.
“It’s a difference of opinion whether it was successful or not. I think it was. First of all, qualifying for a major tournament is an achievement and then to get as far as they did and so close and falling short…
“Yeah, I don’t see this as a fresh start. This is a chance to build on what they’ve done in the past.”
England played their second major final in three years after they were defeated by Italy on penalties at the COVID-delayed Euro 2020 following a 1-1 draw.
“I really believe that we’re in a really strong position. I think when Gareth took over the team, they were in a low position in terms of the amount of quality that was around,” Carsley said.
“But now it’s totally different in that respect. These players now are used to competing. Their standards are so high and it’s important.”
England captain Harry Kane said there was room for improvement.
“To get to two finals in (three) years means you did a lot of things right,” Kane said.
“But ultimately you need to have a few fresh ideas, a few different ways that you want to try improve. There’s always room for improvement, now it’s about trying to implement that.”
Just like for the new England manager, the clash will be a special one for Kane, who has family ties in Ireland.
“My grandparents were born in Ireland, so I have some extended family (there),” he added.
“I’m sure they will be watching in the pubs, probably wanting Ireland to win but maybe will want me to score a goal. It will be my first time playing Ireland so I’m looking forward to that.”
(Reporting by Anita Kobylinska in Gdansk, editing by Pritha Sarkar)
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