MX23RW : Wednesday, November 27 14:06:34| >> :600:428693:428693:

Chris Coleman offers support to under-fire captain Ashley Williams

Coleman offers support to Ashley Williams
© SilverHub
Chris Coleman says that Ashley Williams was "absolutely crushed" after last month's defeat to Republic of Ireland, but hopes to see the defender stay on as Wales captain.

Wales manager Chris Coleman has backed Ashley Williams to stay on as national team skipper for another campaign, despite the centre-back being left "crushed" by the failure to qualify for Russia 2018.

The 33-year-old was criticised for quickly leaving the field after last month's 1-0 loss to the Republic of Ireland, having made a mistake in the build-up to the game's decisive moment.

Defeat for Wales in that qualifying shootout cost them a chance of remaining on course for a place in the World Cup finals, but Coleman hopes that Everton defender Williams - a part of the squad to face France and Panama over the next week - will stay on as captain to provide some stability going forward.

"There may be a change in his heart where he will want to do two more campaigns but he will want to do one more campaign probably," he told reporters. "He is a captain for a reason, he never misses games or training and has a real appetite for football. If you play long enough and play enough games you are going to have a bad patch.

"Your character is what makes you stronger and there is no doubt in my mind he will come through it. Look where Everton are, they need fighters and they have got one in him for sure. He was absolutely crushed because I think he felt like me after that Republic game that we are never going to get to a World Cup.

"He looks at it as if he was involved with the goal because of his mistake, but my words were to him that is one. You look at that in isolation, but we had 10 games where he has been a rock again. He came off the pitch and he was inconsolable - he was a broken man and in another place.

"But Ash would never ever show disrespect. He would be the last person to do that because he knows the importance of having the whole nation behind him as the captain of the team."

Coleman gave Williams, formerly of Stockport County and Swansea City, the captain's armband on a permanent basis in October 2012.

ID:311338: cacheID:311338:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:3013:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Chris Coleman leads a Wales training session on March 22, 2016
Read Next:
Coleman 'has no idea' about Wales future
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool1210112481631
2Manchester CityMan City127232217523
3Chelsea126422314922
4Arsenal126422112922
5Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton126422116522
6Tottenham HotspurSpurs1261527131419
7Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest125431513219
8Aston Villa125431919019
9Fulham125341717018
10Newcastle UnitedNewcastle125341313018
11Brentford125252222017
12Manchester UnitedMan Utd124441313016
13Bournemouth124351617-115
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham124351519-415
15Everton122551017-711
16Leicester CityLeicester122461523-810
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves122372028-89
18Ipswich TownIpswich121651323-109
19Crystal Palace121561017-78
20Southampton121110924-154


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!