Ryan Giggs: Wales must win remaining home games

Ryan Giggs says winning home games will be crucial if they are to qualify for the European Championships.

Wales lost their two away qualifiers in the summer, losing to Croatia and Hungary.

It leaves them second from the bottom near the midway stage of qualifying, three points off of second-placed Slovakia, who hold a superior goal difference over Ryan Giggs side.

They take on Azerbaijan tomorrow night at the Cardiff before taking on Croatia in October and league leaders Hungary in November.

“I think with two defeats you’re up against it. It’s still early in the group and plenty to play for,” said Giggs

“If we have got aspirations to qualify we have to win all our home games. We need to compete and look at getting points at home games.

“We’ve got tough games ahead. We’re under a little bit of pressure. Every time you play for your country you’re under a little bit of pressure.

“Hungary have done so well. With it being so competitive, it’s crucial we get a positive result on Friday.”

Opponents Azerbaijan are winless in Group E but have caused problems for a number of the sides in the qualification group.

Giggs pinpointed the Azeri’s away performance against Croatia as one game he was impressed by the opposition.

“They’re very talented on the break especially, the wide players are very talented and they can go either way, left foot or right foot, so we’ll be wary of that and crosses. They like to get control, Almeida in midfield. 

“It’s up to us be wary of that counter-attack and to put pressure onto the midfielders who are capable of building up the flame and talented. 

“We’re taking nothing for granted.”

One selection headache that Ryan Giggs may have tomorrow is choosing a centre-back partnership.

Captain Ashley Williams has been left out of the squad having been unattached for most of the summer, before joining Bristol City

Chris Mepham, James Lawrence, Tom Lockyer and Joe Rodon have all been featuring for their clubs in the first month of the season.

Lockyer and Lawrence have had summer moves to Charlton and St Pauli whilst Mepham and Rodon have been featuring for Bournemouth and Swansea respectively.

Giggs said: “I’ve got a choice to make in that department, I’ve tried to find that centre-half partnership but because of injuries and form, I’ve not been able to do that.

“I’ve got in my mind who I want the partnership to be but all four of them can come in and do a job.”

One player who could cause damage to Azerbaijan tomorrow is Daniel James, who has excelled at Manchester United, since his reported £15m move from Swansea City.

James has been nominated in the clubs Player of the Month awards, having scored three goals in four appearances in the month of August.

“I’ve not been surprised, he’s had a good pre-season and when you sign for a new club, that’s what you want,” said Giggs.

“When you score, and it gives you a lift. It doesn’t matter who you are in the world or what kind of ability you have. Confidence is everything and it builds. 

“We all know what he’s capable of, what he’s done especially over the last eight or nine months, he just keeps getting better and better.

“He’s at the right club, Ole will know how to look after him and know when to play him.

“It’s a club where they love wingers and players who can excite fans. I’m pleased for him and he’s got the right character.

“He’s really down to earth. He’s at the right club regarding keeping his feet on the ground.”

James is one of the attacking players that Giggs is hoping can take the limelight off of Gareth Bale.

Bale is Wales’ record goalscorer but is hoping players like Dan James, David Brooks Harry Wilson and Tom Lawrence can emulate Bale.

“The pressure is always on Gareth but I want to bring that pressure off Gareth because we can’t rely on him in every game,” added Giggs

“We’ve got other talented players in the squad.

Wales’ talisman Bale will don the captains’ armband tomorrow.

Bale scored a brace on the weekend for Real Madrid, rescuing a point for Zinedine Zidane’s men.

“He’s relaxed, he’s a leader on and off the pitch and one that the players always look up to. It’s good to see him scoring again. Usually, when he scores, he tends to go on a roll.”

(Featured Image: Lewis Mitchell)