Jack Grealish and Jude Bellingham appear to be aiming subtle digs at former England manager Gareth Southgate

On By Littum

Jude Bellingham and Jack Grealish appeared to aim subtle jabs at former England manager Gareth Southgate as they paid tribute to interim boss Lee Carsley.

The comments from the midfield duo hint at underlying discontent during Southgate’s reign as they praised Carsley for restoring joy to the England camp following Southgate’s departure following England’s Euro 2024 exit.

The plaudits come after Carsley’s successful six-match run, which culminated in England’s promotion to Nations League Group A following Sunday’s 5-0 win over Ireland. Despite a defeat to Greece in October, the interim manager helped the team bounce back strongly and secure the team’s place in the top tier of the competition.

It was Carsley’s final that came to the fore before handing over the reins to Thomas Tuchel, who will take over as permanent manager starting on January 1 on an 18-month contract building towards the 2026 World Cup in Mexico, America and Canada.

Both Bellingham and Grealish took to Instagram to express their gratitude to Carsley, suggesting he had restored some joy to England duty.

Real Madrid star Bellingham wrote: “Huge thanks to Lee and his staff for their work over the last few camps. Got my smile back in an England shirt, much appreciated!”

Manchester City’s Grealish was even more effusive in his praise: “What a guy and manager! Absolute legend and thank you for bringing joy back into an English shirt.”

Jack Grealish's Instagram post paid tribute to Lee Carsley's influence

Jack Grealish’s Instagram post paid tribute to Lee Carsley’s influence (instagram/jackgrealish)

Bellingham were often frustrated during the European Championship, while Grealish opened up last month about his disappointment at being left out of the tournament squad.

“I’ll be honest with you, I didn’t really agree. You look at some players in my position – like Phil Foden, Anthony Gordon or Jarrod Bowen – they’ve scored a lot of goals. But I know my game is not all about goals. I give so much more to the team than just goals. I still think that yes, I should have (went to the Euro), but obviously it wasn’t meant to be.

“I thank the manager here (Carsley) for giving me that chance and having that trust in me. It’s really meant a lot. When I play under managers who show trust in me and communicate with me like he has in the last two camps, it really helps me.”

Under Carsley’s guidance, England won five out of six matches, including the thrashing of Ireland with goals from Harry Kane, Anthony Gordon, Conor Gallagher, Bowen and Taylor Harwood-Bellis.

It remains to be seen how the team will continue to develop under the new permanent manager, but Carsley’s short but impactful tenure has reignited a sense of excitement in the squad. Carsley will provide a thorough briefing to the German coach to prepare for England’s World Cup qualifying campaign, with Tuchel’s first set of games scheduled for March.