Ryan Giggs praises UEFA Nations League competitiveness

October 7, 2018
Posted by Steven Tan | Source from Sky Sports
Wales manager Ryan Giggs believes fans and players will learn to love the "competitive" UEFA Nations League once "they get their head around it".
 
Giggs' side made a great start to the Nations League, beating Republic of Ireland 4-1 in Cardiff, but they stuttered in their second match against Denmark, losing 2-0 after a Christian Eriksen double.
 
Wales are second in Group B4, behind Denmark on goal difference, but will be hoping they can win in the return leg against Ireland on October 16, live on Sky Sports, as they bid to earn promotion from the mini-league.
 
Not only will Wales earn promotion if they top their league, but they will also enter the Euro 2020 play-offs, if they have not already qualified.
 
Ryan Giggs, manager of Wales' national team, discusses the new UEFA Nations League, his opinions on the concept and his managerial style for his team. **MUST COURTESY UEFA**.
 
"I like it," Giggs told UEFA.com. "I think if you go through all the groups and all the pots, they'll be really competitive.
 
"You look at all the groups and you think, 'I don't know who's going to win that one'.
 
"I think that's what UEFA wanted, to have it more competitive, and I think that's what you've got.
 
"Just look at our group: ourselves, Ireland, Denmark. It's a really competitive group.
 
"It's great for a manager, it's a new concept, a new start, it will take a bit for the players and the fans to get their head around.
 
"But I think once they do, they'll really enjoy it because of what I said, really competitive games."
 
Giggs became Wales boss in January, succeeding Chris Coleman, but feels the squad is already adapting well to his methods.
 
"My managerial style is quite relaxed, really," Giggs added.
 
"I want the players to focus when we're training or in the meetings, but other than that, I realise that you're away for a long time sometimes, and I just want a relaxed atmosphere.
 
"It helps that I inherited a great squad spirit-wise and regarding how the lads get on. That helped me a lot.
 
"Obviously, I'm different from Cookie (Chris Coleman), the previous manager, I've got my own ways [of doing things] and my own thoughts about how I want to play and work.
 
"But the players have been really good and are taking all the information on board."
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