Lee Carsley: ‘My England job won’t change me – I’m still a normal person’

Lee Carsley has never been “comfortable” being called “boss” and prefers his players to call him by his first name or his nickname “Cars.”

The England interim manager also said he did not believe the increased level of scrutiny in his new role would change him and intended to remain “down to earth”.

Carsley will take charge of his second game as Gareth Southgate’s successor, initially on a temporary basis, when England take on Finland at Wembley in a Nations League match.

It will be Harry Kane’s 100th appearance for his country – the forward will be presented with a gold cap before the game – and he has joined Carsley for media duties, describing him as “the boss”.

“As far as the boss goes, I’ve never really been comfortable with it. It’s very respectful that he says it, but ‘Lee’ or ‘Cars’ is fine,” Carsley said before revealing he hasn’t spoken to the players about how to address him, adding with a smile, “Should I?”

The response from Carsley, who has featured for the Under-21s for at least all six games of this autumn’s Nations League campaign, is consistent with his low-key approach, having said he intends to continue wearing a tracksuit on the touchline, will lead warm-ups before games and sees himself as a head coach rather than a manager.

Asked what it was like to be inevitably thrust into the spotlight, Carsley said: “It’s been good. I think I’m very much in the real world. My house is very grounded in reality. We have the same struggles and challenges as everyone else.”

Connor, one of Carsley and his wife Louisa’s three children, was born with Down’s syndrome and he added: “I think also living with a child with special needs, I’m definitely well involved in the reality of fundraising, reporting and education and making sure he gets the same opportunities and the group that we’re involved with, and many other groups, we can do as much as we can.

“So nothing has changed. Someone asked me the same question the other day: ‘What’s changed?’ It’s the same thing. Maybe I’ll have to be a little more vigilant when I’m out and about.”

“I have to say I’ve gotten a little more attention from random people who support the teams and who yell at me “make sure you choose this or that person” when I arrive at Starbucks during a service! But very respectful.”

Carsley will speak to Southgate and his assistant Steve Holland after the international and said: “I spoke to him before the camp and I will certainly speak to him after the camp. Gareth is very respectful of me having to pick the team, as is Steve Holland. I will certainly meet up with both of them after the camp.”

“I don’t know exactly what we’re going to talk about. But I’ll definitely ask for their opinions. I’d be interested to see what they think.”

Having lost two European Championship finals and reached a World Cup semi-final and quarter-final under Southgate, Carsley knows what the expectations are of the next England manager – whether it’s him or not. “Ultimately we can talk about the shirt [being] heavy, light, too much pressure, not enough pressure… you have to win. You have to win [a trophy],” he said, after leading England to victory at the Under-21 Euros last year.

“You can put it any way you want. We have to win a major tournament. The majority of the players – 98 per cent of them, whatever level – play in the Premier League, which is probably considered the strongest league in the world. I hope they get their due.”

A full tribute will be paid to former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson, who died last month aged 76, before kick-off.