Bullish Craig Bellamy insists Wales will go from strength to strength under his leadership as he warned their future opponents ‘this is the worst we’re going to be.’
In his first game as a boss, Bellamy’s side produced a fluent display of attacking football against Turkey but failed to crown their performance with the goal that would have brought a deserved win over the Euro 2024 quarter-finalists.
Aaron Ramsey squandered two fine opportunities while Joe Rodon, Brennan Johnson and Harry Wilson also went close. Bellamy scored 19 goals in 78 games for his country and would surely have buried a couple of those. He now takes his side to Montenegro on Monday where they will hope to build on this encouraging start to their Nations League campaign.
‘Believe me, this is the worst we are going to be,’ said Bellamy. ‘The more we spend time together, the more we go through the finer details, the more we will learn.
‘We were outstanding. It’s such a good start but there is way more to come. I look in the mirror every day and ask myself if I enjoy what I’m doing – and I love it.
Bullish Craig Bellamy insists Wales will go from strength to strength under his leadership
Bellamy got his managerial reign underway in Friday’s goalless draw against Turkey
Aaron Ramsey (right) was amongst the players to miss good chances for Wales
‘I’m not trying to reinvent anything. There have been way better managers before and there will be way better ones after me. But this style of football is what I like and what I want the players to like.
‘If you don’t have the ball, get it back. I don’t like sitting off. It’s not me as a person. There will be certain times where you have to, but you should try to dominate as much as you can.’
Bellamy scored 19 goals in 78 games for his country and after a long apprenticeship as a coach, accepted his first role as boss last July.
In less than a week, the 45-year-old has overhauled Wales’ playing style. They have moved from the counter-attacking tactics preferred by Robert Page to a possession-based game.
Besides the missed chances, Bellamy will have been disappointed that Wales could not take advantage after Turkey were reduced to 10 men shortly after the hour mark, when Baris Yilmaz was given a second yellow card.
Bellamy was a ball of energy on the touchline and joked that in the build-up to the game he had nearly had second thoughts.
‘An hour before the game I was thinking ‘What have I done?’ I had such a good life before this,’ Bellamy smiled. ‘But I have worked hard for this and I am prepared.
Wales had hoped the red card shown to Baris Alper Yilmaz (left) would give them a path to victory
Bellamy was a ball of energy on the touchline and joked that in the build-up to the game he had nearly had second thoughts
‘I planned for all scenarios. A career in football has taught me to be prepared for whatever happens on the pitch. I learned a lot during my time as a coach.
‘I took my time taking this decision but it was the right time for me to become a manager. I not a master after one game but I enjoyed it.’
Ramsey should have done better in the early stages with a close-range header and a near-post flick, while Rodon sliced wide from inside the six-yard box and Sorba Thomas had a goal ruled out for offside.
Bellamy added: ‘We will make changes. Montenegro are different from Turkey and we will adapt.’
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