PAGE’S RETHINK AFTER NECO RED

WALES’ Neco Williams took his red card against France “hard” and there could be repercussions during Euro 2020 over his lack of minutes, manager Rob Page has revealed.

The Liverpool youngster has been ruled out of Wales’ friendly against Albania today (5pm), with suspension, meaning his playing time has been severely limited in the run-up to the opener against Switzerland on June 12.

Wales boss Page confirmed there were no grounds to appeal the red card, which came after a shot from Karim Benzema hit Williams on the hand from close range following a Paul Pogba attempt at goal in Nice.

Referee Luis Godinho initially gave a corner but after consulting VAR, awarded a penalty then sent off the 20-year-old Welshman.

“We miss him for [Albania],” Page said. “It’s unbelievable.

“It is what it is and we have to get on with it. He took it hard to start with, and he wanted to stay out and ask the referee for justification.

“I had to bring him into the changing room, it’s not going to change anything, explain that to him.

“He’s disappointed for himself because he knows the importance of getting those minutes on board for next week. He knows there might be repercussions because of that.”

Page had been planning for Williams to build his game-time up, but that plan has now been ripped up.

“He’s had a frustrating time since last March when he played for us, he went back and was out for five weeks with injury so he’s not played many minutes,” Page added.

“We had to be sensible in his approach to the first game and we’ve had to change that plan now because of his suspension.

“It is disappointing, but things like this are to test us, and we have to move on and find a solution to it.”

The “close-knit” nature of the Wales group means “they won’t let anybody be down”, Page explained.

Wales captain Gareth Bale revealed it didn’t take long for squad jokes to be made in a bid to lift Williams’ spirits.

“Neco’s fine,” he said. “Obviously disappointed to get sent off.

“It wasn’t a red card, to be honest. Debatable whether it was even a penalty.

“All of us got behind him then we started joking about it when the game was over, lifting his spirits. He’s fine.

“Anything like that happens to any of the players, we always get behind them and support them and get them back happy again and helping the team.”

Page added of Williams: “He’s a great lad, very positive. The boys have been around him today [Friday] and he’s trained today like he’s back to normal.

“It’s good that we’ve got a group that take care of the players as well like that.”

GARETH Bale has described Carlo Ancelotti as a “great manager” and will hold talks with the new Real Madrid boss about his future after Euro 2020.

Bale, whose future has been the subject of intense speculation, spent last season on loan at Tottenham and has one year left on his Real contract.

Ancelotti’s decision this week to leave Everton and return toMadrid is considered as increasing the chances of the Wales forward staying in Spain and seeing out the final year of his contract.

The Italian said on his Real return that he had a “lot of love” for Bale, who fell out of favour with previous manager Zinedine Zidane, and that he can have a future at the Bernabeu.

“I know Carlo Ancelotti is a great manager,” Bale said ahead of Wales’ final Euro 2020 warm-up game against Albania in Cardiff today.

“I get on with him really well, we had some great times in the past.”

Expanding on those comments in a Sky Sports interview, Bale added: “He’s returned to Real Madrid and he’s a great guy.

“We had a great time together at Real Madrid and I’m sure he’s going to be amazing in charge there.

“I spoke to him when we played Everton at the start of the season, we hugged and had a little chat which was nice.

“But I’m still in the same boat and haven’t thought about it too much. I’m concentrated on our preparation now and what’s going to happen in the Euros. I’ll sort the rest of it after.

Bale, 31, said after the final game of his Tottenham loan spell that he knows where his future lies after this summer, but claimed it would “cause chaos” if he reveals it now.

Ancelotti was in charge when Bale joined Real from Spurs in September 2013 and the pair won the Champions League together later that season.

Bale said: “I know Carlo’s returned and I get on with him really well, and I’m not denying that, but I’m just concentrating on now.

“I’m sure I’ll have a conversation with him at some point and I’ll go from there when that happens.

“As soon as the Euros finishes then I’ll go from there.”

Wales’ final pre-Euro 2020 outing against Albania takes place before home supporters for the first time since November 2019.

The easing of Covid-19 restrictions means 6,500 fans will be able to provide a decent Euros send-off to Robert Page’s side at the Cardiff City Stadium.

Wales start their Euro 2020 campaign against Switzerland in Baku on June 12.

“It will be amazing to get the Welsh fans back,” Bale said.

“We had a bit of a taste of it in the last few Premier League games, and it will be nice to have a little send-off before the Euros.

“There’s only 6,000 but I’m sure they’ll be making it sound like a full stadium.

“You miss the buzz and it’s hard to really get the adrenaline going when there are no fans. That’s the main thing.

“Even in the last game (for Spurs) when the Leicester fans were giving me a bit of gip, I went over (after scoring) and had a bit of banter with them.

“They weren’t too happy about it, but I think that kind of reaction with the fans makes football.”

Liverpool full-back Neco Williams misses the Albania friendly after being controversially sent off against France in midweek.

Williams was dismissed for handball after just 25 minutes of the 3-0 friendly defeat in France following a VAR check.

But interim boss Page, who had wanted Williams to build up match fitness against Albania ahead of Euro 2020, said Wales were unable to lodge an appeal on the red card to FIFA.

“There are no grounds for an appeal,” said Page, who confirmed VAR would not be in operation for the Cardiff friendly.

“We’ve had to change our plan. It is disappointing, but we’ve got to find a solution.”