After three wins from four games as England interim coach, Lee Carsley appeared to distance himself from taking on the job full time.
A 3-1 victory against Finland in the Nations League on Sunday saw England get back to winning ways after the shock 2-1 home loss to Greece. But Carsley sounded uncertain about his credentials to succeed Gareth Southgate in one of the biggest management roles in world soccer.
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Fredrik Jensen of Finland, centre right, fails to score past goalkeeper Dean Henderson of England during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Finland and England, at the Olympic Stadium in Helsinki, Finland, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024. (Antti Aimo-Koivisto/Lehtikuva via AP)
Finland's Robert Ivanov, right, challenges for the ball with England's Declan Rice during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Finland and England, at the Olympic Stadium in Helsinki, Finland, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024. (Antti Aimo-Koivisto/Lehtikuva via AP)
Jack Grealish of England scores the opening goal during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Finland and England, at the Olympic Stadium in Helsinki, Finland, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024. (Antti Aimo-Koivisto/Lehtikuva via AP)
Jack Grealish of England celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Finland and England, at the Olympic Stadium in Helsinki, Finland, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024. (Antti Aimo-Koivisto/Lehtikuva via AP)
England's interim manager Lee Carsley waits for the start of the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Finland and England, at the Olympic Stadium in Helsinki, Finland, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024. (Markku Ulander/Lehtikuva via AP)
“This job deserves a world class coach that’s won trophies and been there and done it and I’m still on the path to that,” Carsley said after goals from Jack Grealish, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Declan Rice secured the win in Helsinki.
Carsley led England's under-21 team to victory in the European Championship last year and was seen as one of the leading contenders to replace Southgate, who stepped down in July.
But after naming an experimental team that lost to Greece on Thursday, questions about his suitability were raised. If not for some errant finishing from No. 64-ranked Finland, Sunday could have been another uncomfortable night for an England team ranked 60 places higher.
Carsley said he hadn't enjoyed the days following the loss to Greece.
“I’m just not used to losing with an England team. I don’t take losing very well,” he said.
Grealish helped lift his mood when opening the scoring from close range in the 18th minute at the Helsinki Olympic Stadium after being set up by a clever flick from Angel Gomes.
Alexander-Arnold doubled England's lead in the 74th with a trademark free kick and Rice converted at the near post 10 minutes later from substitute Ollie Watkins' cross.
Arttu Hoskonen scored a consolation for Finland in the 87th.
England is second in Group B2 and trails leader Greece on goal difference, having played a game more.
Carsley said his remit was to take charge of the six Nations League games before the end of the year, with two remaining against Greece and Ireland next month.
“My bosses have made it totally clear what they need from me,” he said.
James Robson is at https://twitter.com/jamesalanrobson
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Fredrik Jensen of Finland, centre right, fails to score past goalkeeper Dean Henderson of England during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Finland and England, at the Olympic Stadium in Helsinki, Finland, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024. (Antti Aimo-Koivisto/Lehtikuva via AP)
Finland's Robert Ivanov, right, challenges for the ball with England's Declan Rice during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Finland and England, at the Olympic Stadium in Helsinki, Finland, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024. (Antti Aimo-Koivisto/Lehtikuva via AP)
Jack Grealish of England scores the opening goal during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Finland and England, at the Olympic Stadium in Helsinki, Finland, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024. (Antti Aimo-Koivisto/Lehtikuva via AP)
Jack Grealish of England celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Finland and England, at the Olympic Stadium in Helsinki, Finland, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024. (Antti Aimo-Koivisto/Lehtikuva via AP)
England's interim manager Lee Carsley waits for the start of the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Finland and England, at the Olympic Stadium in Helsinki, Finland, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024. (Markku Ulander/Lehtikuva via AP)
NEW YORK (AP) — Carlos Rodón wants to be more like Gerrit Cole when he starts the AL Championship Series opener for the New York Yankees against Cleveland on Monday night.
After getting knocked out in the fourth inning of his Division Series start against Kansas City, Rodón paid close attention to his teammate's outing in Thursday's clincher.
“Gerrit's a good poker player. Me, not so much,” Rodón said Sunday. “I need to be better at poker.”
Cole pitched shutout ball into the sixth, allowed Vinnie Pasquantino's RBI double that cut the Yankees' lead to two runs, then retired Salvador Perez on a popup. He pitched seven innings in New York's series-clinching 3-1 win.
“He didn’t react every inning,” Rodón said. “If you watched him come out, it’s just like a robot walking to the dugout. Then at the end of the seventh, it’s a big roar because he knows like ‘I did my job.’”
Cole starts Game 2 on Tuesday, followed by Clarke Schmidt in Game 3 at Cleveland on Thursday and rookie Luis Gil the following day in Game 4.
“It was really kind of choosing between Clarke and Carlos,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Sunday. “It just felt like it was close, and I feel like this kind of keeps them on rhythm as much as possible without giving one guy a huge, long layoff.”
The Guardians, who defeated the Tigers in Game 5 of their Division Series on Saturday, are going with Alex Cobb in Game 1. Cobb gave up two runs and three hits in three innings in his Game 3 start against Detroit, his first appearance since Sept. 1.
Rodón's fastball averaged 97 mph against the Royals, 1.6 mph above his season average, and he struck out the side in the first. He led 1-0 until Perez's leadoff home run in the fourth sparked a four-run inning. Tommy Pham, Garrett Hampson and Maikel Garcia hit RBI singles that chased the 31-year-old left-hander in a 4-2 loss.
“Usually I start off fairly tame velo-wise and then work my way up to the higher numbers later into the game. I wouldn’t say that’s a reason of why it kind of unraveled for me,” Rodón said. “There’s some times for some better composure, and I think it could help some energy levels for sure.”
A two-time All-Star and 10-year veteran, Rodón doesn't mind displays of emotion on the field.
“If you want to act a certain way, sure, go about it your way," he said. "If you hit a homer off me 900 feet or however far, you want to flip your bat, flip your bat. You did something good. This game's hard. It’s not easy. So a little celebration is fine.”
Rodón rebounded to a 16-9 record with a 3.96 ERA over 172 innings in 32 starts in his second season with the Yankees after signing a $162 million, six-year contract. He was 3-8 with a career-worst 6.85 ERA over 14 outings in a 2023 season that didn’t start until July 7 because of a strained left forearm and back stiffness.
“He’s in a really good spot, throwing the ball well,” Boone said. “Hopefully going through his first playoff game here in the Bronx and experience all the emotions that you do, hopefully there’s something that serves him well in this next time.”
Rodón's wife, Ashley, said she received online harassment following his defeat.
“It's not the first time nor will it be the last time,” the pitcher said. “I think Ashley and I spoke about it that night, and she said, and I quote, she said, ‘I have thick skin, so I’m going to be OK.’ And she does. She’s a tough lady, my wife, very tough, probably tougher than I am. For me, on my phone, I have accounts, but I do not have social media on my phone."
Boone said it was possible first baseman Anthony Rizzo could be added to the roster, but no decision had been made. Rizzo has been sidelined since fracturing a pair of fingers when hit by a pitch on Sept. 28.
“He did a lot more yesterday and did pretty well, but I want to see more today,” Boone said before the workout. “There's a chance.”
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New York Yankees pitcher Carlos Rodón speaks during a news conference ahead of an American League Championship series baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
New York Yankees pitcher Carlos Rodón speaks during a news conference ahead of an American League Championship series baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
New York Yankees pitcher Carlos Rodón speaks during a news conference ahead of an American League Championship series baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
New York Yankees pitcher Carlos Rodón reacts as he walks off the field during the fourth inning of Game 2 of the American League baseball playoff series against the Kansas City Royals, Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
New York Yankees pitcher Carlos Rodón (55) reacts after striking out the batter during the first inning of Game 2 of the American League baseball playoff series against the Kansas City Royals, Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
