I'm doing things my way now, insists Wales boss Coleman

|

UPDATED:

21:21 GMT, 11 October 2012

Wales manager Chris Coleman insists he
is finally doing things his own way as he heads into a World Cup
qualifier with Scotland that will have a huge bearing on whether he
stays in his job.

The former Fulham and Coventry City
boss has endured a nightmare start – losing his first four matches –
since taking over from erstwhile playing colleague Gary Speed.

Under pressure: Wales boss Chris Coleman

Wales lost 6-1 in Serbia last month – their third heaviest defeat since the Second World War – leaving questions as to Coleman's suitability as boss.

He has since relieved Arsenal's Aaron Ramsey of his duties as captain, replacing the midfielder with Ashley Williams, and finally admits to having escaped the legacy of the previous regime.

Three points in Cardiff before a sell-out crowd will go a long way towards restoring confidence. But a fifth defeat would make his start the worst of any Wales manager.

Fridays' match is followed by a difficult trip to Croatia on Tuesday and adding two more defeats to a record that is in stark contrast to Speed's four victories from five will leave serious questions to be answered.

Coleman, however, was pleased to finally have escaped the pressure he felt at having to follow the path set down by his late friend, albeit a path which was successful.

'I have felt inhibited,' he said, 'I felt the pressure of keeping to the same philosophy – that things couldn't change. That you don't fix what isn't broken.

New captain: Ashley Williams

'But we are four games in and we haven't won. We haven't gone forward. I had to change things.

'After the Serbia game, my normal reaction would have been an aggressive one. But I immediately looked more at myself.

'I thought that I was doing things the way someone else was doing them. It's tough because a lot of those things were good – but they were someone else's.

'We had a rhythm and flow under Gary. But we have lost it. And I think the players were looking at me saying: “What do you want to do”

'That's why I made Ashley skipper. It's a subtle change. We wanted a more experienced captain and he ticks all those boxes.

'Look, you can try on someone else's jacket but if it doesn't fit you, you can't keep wearing it.'

Williams is a logical choice to assume captaincy responsibilities. He said: 'It always falls on the shoulders of the manager when you get results like the one we got in Serbia but all the boys really like him.

Boost: Gareth Bale

'We actually want to win for him. You hear it all the time but it's true in this case. He's going to be criticised but we'd like to turn things around for him because I don't think the stick has been deserved.

'We have let him down. We need to put it right.

'Speaking for the players, we all want to win for the manager. I'm sure we won't lose the next two matches.'

There are mitigating circumstances to Wales' sudden decline. Coleman has suffered horribly through withdrawals of his major players. For instance, he has not been able to name Gareth Bale and Craig Bellamy in the same squad. Wales have also selected tough opposition in their friendlies. Mexico and Bosnia are strong at the moment.

Having said that, it was a shock that Wales conceded six goals just three days after a solid show with 10 men against Belgium.

'I don't think I will ever come to terms with what happened in Serbia, if I'm honest,' said Coleman. 'When you lose a game of football it's never a nice feeling. But when you get hit for six, especially for your country, you never swallow that.

'That feeling after the game, I never want to experience that again. Freak results happen, bad results happen. It makes you want to work harder, but come to terms with it No. Forget about it No. Brush it to one side You have to.

'The questions are: “How do we prepare for Scotland” and “How can we get three points”

'We have trained with a good intensity this week. It will be fast, aggressive and the atmosphere will be fantastic. I hope that we embrace it.'