Wales vs Czechia: Matty Jones previews EURO 2025 qualifier as Reading star delivers Rubén Sellés verdict following Cardiff City links
NEWPORT, WALES - 09 OCTOBER 2024: Wales Charlie Savage during the training session at Rodney Parade on the 9th October 2024. (Pic by Ashley Crowden/FAW)
As Wales prepare for their crucial U21 showdown with Czechia tomorrow night, manager Matty Jones has urged his players to focus on themselves.
The task is simple. Draw with the Czechs and Wales guarantee themselves a spot in the playoffs. Win and there’s a possibility Jones’ side could qualify for next summer’s European Championships automatically.
It would be easy to get carried away and think of what could be, but the manager has urged his team to stay focused and control the controllable.
“The focus for us has been on ourselves and what we can control,” he said.
“Ultimately, our ambition is to do as well as we have done throughout this campaign and take points off teams.
“However, we’ve grown a real sense of belief in this team, and we believe we can go and win games. That attitude certainly doesn’t change for this game.
“We’ve had a fantastic week of training. There’s always a great vibe and energy to the players away from the pitch, and that’s what, collectively, we’ve grown and progressed throughout these last couple of years.
“There’s always togetherness and camaraderie, it’s everything that you see with every successful teams.”
However, the thought of what could happen is enough to excite anyone with a connection to Wales, and Charlie Savage is hoping on Friday, the U21s can top off what has been a remarkable two years.
“It would mean the world to qualify for a major tournament. The amount of effort that’s been put in by all the staff and the players to get to this point over the last two years has been immense, and we’ve built a real bond, a real family here.
“It would be amazing to top that all off with qualifying.”
Charlie Savage finding his feet with Wales
This U21 qualifying campaign has coincided with Charlie Savage starting to play regular first-team football.
Having been at the Manchester United academy, the combative midfielder made the move to League One side Reading and says nothing beats the feeling of playing week in week out.
“I had to get out of playing U21s football for Manchester United and had to experience playing men’s football. The learning you get playing for three points every week, you can’t mirror that.
“That learning is essential for any young player. To get games and minutes, especially under a manager like Rubén Sellés, is really good.”
The praise of his manager Sellés is a particular interesting one, as the current Royals manager is linked with the vacant role at Cardiff City.
Asked what qualities the former Southampton boss had; Savage was quick to praise his ability to improve young players.
“Rubén is a manager that likes developing young players and gives them a chance. That was evident over the weekend when we had a 16-year-old play for us. He wants to develop people’s games, and I’ve really enjoyed playing under him.”
Savage is enjoying his time with his club manager, and he also had plenty of praise for U21 manager Jones.
The landscape of the U21 side has changed under the former Wales international and his coaching staff, and Savage says the team are willing to do anything for Jones.
“I honestly think that’s the most important part of being a manager, to have that personal side. As players, we want to run through a brick wall for Matty, that’s the honest truth.
“He treats us all like sons, and that’s so important because if he asks you to do anything, you’re going to do it, because you feel like you owe him for the work he’s put in and the time he’s given you.
“Coming down to the U21 squad is not a demotion at all. In the past, it may have felt like that, but under Matty, it’s not like that, and it’s a joy to come into camp and play for your country.
“Matty has done a really good job, alongside Richie Williams, of making sure that being part of the squad is not seen as anything else apart from a place to develop yourself.”
Czechia challenge
The only thing standing in the way of Wales making history are Czechia.
In the reverse fixture, Cian Ashford scored an equaliser in added time to steal a draw out in Ceské Budejovice, and Jones says that game highlighted the importance of every member of the squad.
“When we played them away from home, there were a couple of adaptions and tweaks we needed to make, which didn’t happen until half-time, but when we did change, we grew in stature and took a lot of things away.
“When you look at the goal and the magnitude of it, it’s a bit of individual brilliance from Cian Ashford, but it also highlights the importance of our finishers.”
Savage wasn’t involved in that game, but he is well aware of the talent that has come out of the country, and knows how difficult a fixture it will be, especially as if they beat Wales, they still have a chance of qualification themselves.
“Czechia are a very good side and are a big footballing nation who have had some big names in the past. To underestimate them would be quite silly.
“They’re a great team who also can qualify for these championships, but if we give our all, we’ll have a great chance of winning.”
