GIGGS ERA BEGINS
Clash of the dragons as Wales take on China
ASHLEY Williams admits he weighed up the idea of retiring from international football following Wales’ heartbreaking World Cup qualifying defeat to the Republic of Ireland in October.
Defeat to Martin O’Neill’s men ended Wales’ chances of reaching the global showpiece in Russia this summer while it proved to be the final competitive match of Chris Coleman’s reign as manager of the national side.
And Williams – who will remain as captain of Wales under Ryan Giggs – revealed ahead of today’s clash with China that he spoke to those close to him following the loss to the Irish to gauge what would be the best decision for his future.
“Yes, I had to think about it myself a little bit,” he said.
“It was just so disappointing missing out on that (the World Cup) that I had to think about it.
“I spoke to the people closest to me and stuff.
“I didn’t want to retire or anything like that, but I felt like it was something that I should’ve thought about and seen where I was at with club and international football and life in general.
“I did give that a thought, but then I decided I wanted to keep doing it anyway.”
Williams has not played first team football since being sent off late on during Everton’s 2-1 defeat to Burnley at Turf Moor earlier this month.
Having been hit with a three-game ban by the Football Association, Williams missed the Toffees’ Premier League wins against Brighton and Stoke City while he will also remain sidelined for their clash with Man City after the international break.
He met with Giggs and other new members of Wales’ backroom team just 24 hours after being dismissed against the Clarets, with the Manchester United legend revealing at his squad announcement for the China Cup that Williams will remain as captain of the national team.
And the centre-back feels it was important to meet his new boss prior to the trip to Nanning, adding that he expects Giggs to implement his own style on proceedings during the course of the tournament at the Guangxi Sports Center. “It (meeting with Giggs) was only down the road from my house anyway,” added Williams.
“It was good to meet the new staff, then I spoke to the gaffer one-onone a little bit and he asked me a few questions and wanted to know my thoughts on certain things then told me his view about going forward so it was an important thing to do before the camp.
“It’s important for me to help the gaffer to come into a group that’s been together for so long.
“As the captain it’s my job to help knit that together, I suppose.
“I said anything that he needs he can give me a call and we have spoken on the phone.
“Obviously, I go to him because when the manager changes certain things change with the way it works and we’ve been working together closely to try to get as much work done as possible in a short space of time.”
I didn’t want to retire, but felt it was something that I should think about ASHLEY WILLIAMS