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Rico Lewis Interim boss expected Lee Carsley Bringing impactful, dynamic and exciting football England,
It is just under two months since Gareth Southgate ended his eight-year reign after another narrow defeat in a European Championship final.
The search for a permanent successor by the Football Association continues. England Under-21 Boss Carsley has parachuted in for the autumn Nations League fixtures, which begin against the Republic of Ireland on Saturday.
The 50-year-old led the country to the European Under-21 Championship last summer and Lewis, who has played five times under him at that level, is looking forward to working with him again.
Asked what to expect from Carsley, Lewis said: “To dominate every game we play.
“Our aim is to dominate and control the entire game and with that comes a lot of excitement. Also, we have to control the game even when we don’t have the ball.
“I like both the offensive side and the defensive side of the game, but the offensive side is for everybody.”
Lewis spoke admiringly of Carsley’s “progressive football” during the tour in the summer Manchester CityWhere he works under possibly the best coach in the world.
He wanted to control the game and he wanted to win games and be exciting, he always talked about playing exciting football
Rico Lewis on Lee Carsley
Pep Guardiola’s meticulous approach is key in implementing detailed tactical concepts and dynamic systems, which the 19-year-old believes do not need to be simplified for the international level.
“I think I’m obviously biased because I play for City, but the way we play is the best way to play and I think it’s definitely possible to do that with England because we have the quality of players,” he said.
“It’s hard to understand the concepts right away, but if it starts to make sense, and it will make sense, and the more you do it in games, I think that’s the way to progress faster.”
Asked if Carsley was thinking the same thing, Lewis said: “Yeah, I think so.”
“Even when I was with him with the Under-21s he wanted to control the game and he wanted to win games and be exciting, he always talked about playing exciting football, so I don’t see why it can’t be done.”
The versatile Lewis is set to get another chance in the senior squad as England take on Ireland and Finland in their first matches in the second phase of the Nations League.
The 19-year-old missed out on Southgate’s Euro 2024 selection but is back in the squad after a superb start to the season with City.
“I knew England were doing really well at the Euros,” Lewis said.
“It meant players like John (Stones) and Kyle (Walker) would come in later and that would give me opportunities later on in the tour and then in the first few games.
“I had to focus on that and I had to stay fit so I could play. Just focus and whenever I get the chance to play, just take advantage of it. I just want to continue to stay as focused as I can.”
Lewis impressed during City’s pre-season tour, for which he prepared by training Muay Thai with his two-time British champion father Rick.
“I feel like I’ve learned something from what I did with my dad and I can apply that to football,” he said.
“This pre-season before I came back I was doing a bit with my dad, just to get my fitness back and things like that. It’s a good and different way to get fit.
“Just discipline – you can apply it to everyday life.
“There is a lot of balance and a lot of agility in every action you do in Thai boxing, and I think that definitely helps me. It has helped me from when I was young to now.
“Now my role is more like a midfielder, getting on the ball, moving it around and doing things like that, being strong and agile. It has definitely helped my game.”
The family have helped Lewis with his games, but have not helped him in his attempts to get Oasis tickets.
The teenager previously said his bass-playing grandfather Dave toured with the band, but he now admits he was wrong.
“My grandfather was into Eric Clapton or something like that,” he laughed. “I said it wrong. I said Oasis!
“I did it wrong. She didn’t like it. I don’t know the details so I won’t try to pretend.”
“I haven’t got any (Oasis tickets) yet so I’m trying to get some for my sister but they’re all sold out so we’ll have to see.”