Lee Carsley's First Interview As Interim Head Coach Of The Three Lions

[Music] good to go Lee thanks for joining us um you're a few days in to your role as interim head coach how does it feel to be given the opportunity yeah I feel um uh privileged to be in the position obviously it's a very prestigious job following um Gareth and Steve and the great job that they've done I know that there's a lot of responsibility the challenge ahead looking forward to September and and the games that are in front of us you've worked with many of the players both internationally and at Club level how important or helpful do you think that will be for you I think it I think it definitely helps I think I've got um you know a relationship with the players known them quite a few years obviously there's a lot of players that I don't know as well but I'm I'm I'm very much aware of them I think we've got some outstanding players in the senior team and in the pathway I think the the level of of player over the last few years has really improved and you can see that by the you know the the way that we've done in in major tournaments obviously that the next step is is winning and and that's that that's got to be the objective Gareth and Steve's time obviously came to an end in in July do you have a few words about the the job that they did I think they they they did a great job you know it was brilliant for me personally to to work with them so encouraging very good people to work with which which is really important obviously the the success that they had as well it's a shame obviously that they they didn't cross that that that final hurdle but the environment that they created around England England teams um is is a credit to both of them they played such a a pivotal role in in English football and I'm sure they'll be remembered for a long time you supported Gareth and Steve during Euro 2024 as you have previous tournaments as well as disappointing as it ended how do you reflect on the the Journey that that we had it always um fascinates me how much the impact it has back in England um you know the the the amount of of support that the team get the amount of expectancy that's on the shoulders it really does unite a country and um you know it's it's been good to see that his Testament to them and the staff that they're you know getting to back-to-back finals which isn't easy you know obviously the the last bit is is is going that extra mile and and winning I think we've we've got the players to do that so hopefully you know this this could be the start of of that looking ahead to September Camp what are your aims and priorities F first and foremost it's it's getting the squad together picking the right Squad trying to get a a balance between making sure that it's fresh and competitive but understanding that you know it's um it's it's games that we need to you need to do well in we need to win everything's in balance and and that's what that's what I'll be looking to do I think it's it's important that we put our own stamp on the squad um and and make make sort of adjustments but you know I think it's it's important to realize as well that's a lot of the players have done really well in the past and we have to acknowledge that rep of Ireland and Finland what kind of challenges do you think they'll both uh give us it's been a few days since since I started watching them so um you know the analysis um roles have started really uh the last couple of days in terms of looking in depth at the Republic of H that have got a new manager and sales and Finland that have had the same manager for for a while so it's they've both got a unique way of playing uh irland would be more unsure on what to expect in terms of the changeing manager and what what he changes but I know that John OA done a good job with him in a from a temporary point of view and getting him um a bit more resilient and it'll always be a difficult game in Dublin so two teams that we're looking forward to playing against and um yeah really really encourage to to see how how we we Faire against them yeah like you say an away game in Dublin and then that opportunity to to play in front of our fans again at Wembley Stadium will be special I'm sure yeah definitely I think it's um you know you always enjoy playing at home it be be um a a great night for our staff especially of our first game at Wembley excited to to meet up with the players and and and hopefully really do well out in in the September window for the group of players how important is this period now as we kind of work towards the the World Cup really the the bigger picture the longterm picture you know obviously the World Cup is is two years away so it's important that we you know we we see that in stages first and foremost we need to set our stall out in the way that we're going to um attack the Nations League make sure that we we do well in that and then lead us into the into the World Cup qualifiers ideally I wanted to enjoy camps enjoy playing for England like like they have done in the past with with Gareth and Steve and hopefully we can continue that the new season is is virtually upon us now um how closely will we will you be watching our players involvement both domestically and and abroad yeah definitely all of the the monitor's already started we've watched a lot of the friendlies we've got a really good insights Department as well that will be monitoring all of the players so yeah we I'm looking forward to the the season starting and finally do you have a message for for England fans back home watching yeah I really appreciate your support hopefully you'll get beond the team you'll enjoy watching the team but hopefully they'll they'll be excited by the future