Declan Rice says he ‘enjoys’ football with England more than Arsenal

Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice scored in England’s 3-1 win over Finland in the Nations League.

Interim manager Lee Carsley took over England after Gareth Southgate left earlier this year. Southgate took England to the EURO 2024 final where the Three Lions eventually lost to Spain.

Carsley won three of his first four games in charge, with his only loss coming against Greece last week. Many England players have gotten a chance under the former U21 manager including the likes of Angel Gomes, Noni Madueke and Levi Colwill.

However, Carsley said on ITV that he has no interest in taking over the team full time, after the Finland game.

When asked if the next manager needs to be English, Carsley replied:

“No, definitely not. It’s important that the best candidate gets the job. We’ve seen in the past that we’ve had different nationalities coach the teams, so it should be the best candidate should to get the job. We’d be putting ourselves in a corner if we didn’t say that, and we didn’t open our minds a bit.”

Declan Rice says he enjoys playing for England under Lee Carsley

The Arsenal midfielder had scored twice under Carsley compared to three goals in the last 50 games under previous England coaches. Rice explains the reason why he has been playing so well is because of how ‘positive’ the playing style is:

“I played deeper against Greece but against Finland I played deep and that little bit higher, so it was a mix,” Rice said to BBC Radio 5 Live. “I’ve really been enjoying my football and that is the main thing because you need happiness.

“It was a really good reaction [from the Greece defeat] and we probably could have scored more.

“Lee has got a positive way of playing and we will keep playing like that because we love playing for him. It is really refreshing.

“I think he’s been unbelievable since he arrived. It is my first time working with him, but the under-21 boys couldn’t speak highly enough of him. Whatever happens happens, but we are all enjoying this journey at the minute.”

Rice will return to Arsenal this week at the end of the international break. The Gunners take on Bournemouth in the Premier League this weekend.