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Wales boss Craig Bellamy praised for ‘refreshing’ interview and pays tribute to Gary Speed

Wales boss Craig Bellamy pays tribute to Gary Speed and is praised for giving a ‘refreshing’ interview after his first game in charge.

Craig Bellamy returned to the international stage for the first time since retiring as a player in October 2013, with his side playing out a 0-0 draw against Turkey in the UEFA Nations League League B Group 4.

There were plenty of positive encouraging signs, Wales showing urgency, energy and detail, impressing those watching on.

Bellamy said: “[The players were] outstanding. We’ve had a lot of work this week, a lot of meetings, and I’m always conscious of the load of information given to the players in a short space of time.

“They were great all week, so that gives you confidence going into the game.

“As much as you plan, you just don’t know how it’s going to go. Believe me, this is the worst we’re going to be.

“The more we learn, the finer details, there’s way more to come.”

On spending hours watching tapes of Turkey matches: “I planned for all scenarios, the worst scenario, you name it.

“This game has taught me to be prepared for whatever happens on the pitch. It helped.

“I had a lot of time to look at Turkey and identify where I felt they had weaknesses and strengths.

“Of course a top team, a top coach, they’re going to change and adapt. It was great.

“I’m not a master of this after one game, trust me. I enjoyed it.

“Great opposition, brilliant manager, great country to play against in your first game. I have worked hard for this and I’m prepared for it.”

Meanwhile, Turkey boss Vincenzo Montella blamed tiredness from Euro 2024 for his side’s below-par performance.

“The players are fatigued, physically and mentally, after the Euros.

“They had only one week vacation, but I do not remember Mert Gunok (Turkey goalkeeper) having to make too many saves.

“Wales were able to rest this summer, they were not playing at a tournament.

“I’m happy with my team and the way we organised after the red card.”

Craig Bellamy got emotional discussing his former Wales team-mate Gary Speed on what would have been his 55th birthday: “I always look at like, what did he do or how would he have done this? That never, its always, and I was like that as a player with him as well because he had such a huge impact on me. I believe probably this week I’ve looked back more.

“I hope the players feel like I felt when he was first in charge and that knew, like, we’re going to do something here because that’s how I honestly felt. I hope they get that and I hope I was able to relay similar messages that he was able to relay to us as a group.

“Because how Welsh football has progressed over the last number of years, it’s been through him, its been his identity. Every game, everything we look to do is to preserve who he is to us and trust me, Anthem when Friday night, I was thinking of him. I had family members as well, but it crosses me. It will always do it. I know its his birthday today, so yeah, that’s enough for me.

A few months back, Craig Bellamy said his time as Wales boss is for his late friend, Gary Speed: “This is for him.

“I didn’t see myself coming back to Wales but I always felt that pull back here.

“I’m grateful for that happening. I want to reconnect just for myself to gain peace.

“Because I do imagine this will be my last period in Wales, these next three or four years or whatever that period is, I try not to look too far.

“I want to soak up everything I can, get to see every part of it, get to enjoy every part of it as well.

“It sounds a bit strange but I see it that way because, good or bad, football will probably take me out of here then.”

Here’s how fans reacted with Wales boss Craig Bellamy praised for giving a ‘refreshing’ interview and pays tribute to Gary Speed

@msth_19: Hes a breath of fresh air isn’t he. Finally there’s a cause for optimism.

@DavidBurnett90: Should have had the jobs before Giggs. You can see how passionate he is and what it means to him. The way we played tonight was brilliant to see!

@Ashleysavage92: Refreshing fair play good lad him

@MrChairman06: Love the way he spoke, can tell there’s a buzz and a positivity from him, players and fans from the off set. Roll on tomorrow night and an away trip to Montenegro 👌🏻🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿⚽️🍻

@OvalWays: Great interview and a good, positive vibe from the manager.

@JimTom19: How bloody refreshing is this?! Trying not to get too excited here

@BarmyBluebird94: To his credit, he does speak very well, I’m not his biggest fan like some are but I do think he will be an excellent manager for our country 🤞

@BuzzBoncath: There is quite the statement from Bellamy, but then last night itself was quite the statement in terms of style & “identity”. It was a huge leap forward. Goal-scoring remains an issue & getting the best out of Johnson feels key to that. But I can’t wait for Monday night!

@ccfcmatchworn: I agree, I thought our general play was outstanding last night and hugely exciting times ahead hopefully. Only worry was the lack of quality shots on target. More in Montenegro please Craig 💪🏻🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

@Michael73271023: Thought we played pretty well looks like we have a plan in place

@PortTalbotJack: 🙌 Ambition is Critical 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

@liam_brett7: Man he speaks so well. Frustrating last night feel like we could’ve easily won with a bit more pace coming off the bench rather than the ones coming on but nice to see us dominate a game and not sit off opponents for once

@TheRealTR19: Bellars please I already love you, you haven’t got to convince me even more, what an interview man

@cai_rhys: I love how honest and just HIMSELF Bellamy is in press conferences compared to the usual PR rubbish where it’s almost like top flight managers get handed a script beforehand. Just be honest. It’s your brand of football, so only YOU should be the one judging it.

@aswelshasazebra: I love him already 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

@DebbieSpindlow: Well I bloody well LOVE this

@BillyapioloNew: I love him already

@manutdfanutd123: We are going places with you ❤️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

@i_am_matt86: Best I’ve seen us play in years. Really impressed with how he spoke there.

@JamieEason19: Wales played well fair play. Bellamy got tactics can’t lie. They played better football then the dross they were playing under Page the football was terrible under page dinosaur tactics he had. Wales ACTUALLY attacked for once instead of having everyone behind the ball

@thehuwdavies: Breath. Of. Fresh air. That isn’t an anti-Page thing — it’s just such a great post-match interview to hear from a new coach after his first game (even if the main quote here is tempting fate, heh). He’s pissed off not to win because he’s ambitious, but talks so well about tactics

@__scottsaunders: Bellamy has been a breath of fresh air. Love the way he speaks, the honesty, the belief he has in the players he’s got. It translated to the performance on night one. Shame the dominance wasn’t converted but it’s such an encouraging start. And the best is to come 🫡

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