Coleman wants changes before he signs a new Wales contract
Chris Coleman will seek reassurances that his vision for the future of Welsh football will be carried out before agreeing to a contract extension.
The 45-year-old has guided Wales to a first major finals since 1958 and Cardiff will stage the nation’s biggest football celebration tonight when they face Andorra in their final Euro 2016 qualifier.
Coleman’s contract expires after next summer’s finals in France, but every indication had pointed to him and the Football Association of Wales reaching a rapid agreement on a deal for the former Fulham manager to remain in charge for the 2018World Cup campaign.
However, the Wales manager cast doubt on his longterm future after stating he wants to be allowed to alter his set-up, and he is willing to “rattle a few cages” in order to try to get his way.
“We need to keep pushing forward. Because we have qualified people may think nothing needs to change as we have done it. That is not the case,” said Coleman.
“You can always get better and always keep pushing. We can never be in a position where we feel comfortable. Once we get into that position you never keep achieving.
“It is up to me to rattle a few cages and say, ‘We have done this but to get to the next stage we need to change certain things’. I have no idea if it will stop me continuing in the job, it is not like I have a completely different plan and they will go, ‘What’s that?’
“We have succeeded but how can we improve? I need a
Wales conversation with the powers that be that I want to do it a bit differently. It is about my staff, how we run the structure.”
In the meantime, Coleman will look to step up preparations for a first tournament appearance since the days of John Charles, Cliff Jones and Terry Medwin.
Wales have long targeted a high-profile home friendly in November but have found opponents of the desired calibre hard to come by. However, Coleman revealed there is interest in a Millennium Stadium fixture with Portugal, which would pitch Gareth Bale against his Real Madrid team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo, while playing Poland in Warsaw is close to confirmation.
“Portugal would be a good one. We were told that there is a mini-tournament in Miami [in November]. They may be part of that,” said Coleman. “If they’re not, then of course we would be interested in that.
“We want that game in Cardiff, possibly at the Millennium Stadium. It would be a good time to play there, if it’s going to be a bigger crowd. But, for me, Cardiff City Stadium is where we will be playing during the World Cup campaign.”
Russian recovery after Capello exit earns spot
Russia secured their place at Euro 2016 with a 2-0 win over Montenegro in Moscow yesterday, less than three months after parting company with coach Fabio The Belgium coach, Marc Wilmots, may ignore Manchester City’s pleas and play Vincent Kompany against Israel tonight.
Manuel Pellegrini said Kompany “could not play” for Belgium after missing City’s last five games with a calf problem. But Wilmots said Kompany was “fit” and had a “big chance” to play. Capello when they looked on course for the play-offs.
Instead, Sweden, who beat Moldova 2-0 in Stockholm, finished third in the group and await Sunday’s play-off draw.
Slovakia confirmed their place in France next year with a 4-2 win over Luxembourg.
Coach may defy Pellegrini and play Kompany