RYAN GIGGS has revealed he wanted to quit Wales BEFORE his first game because of the ‘horrible’ feeling of being a manager.
The Manchester United legend won 13 Premier League titles and two Champions Leagues during a glittering 24-year playing career at Old Trafford.
Ryan Giggs admits he wanted to quit Wales before his first match in chargeCredit: PA:Empics Sport
But, after being appointed Wales boss in January 2018, Giggs admits he struggled with the transition of swapping playing to managing when he took charge for the first time against China two months later.
Giggs said: “I remember being on the coach before my first game for Wales in China. I was at the front of the coach and I’m thinking, ‘This is my last game’. I don’t want to feel like this again.
“I’d only had the team for a couple of days, I’d prepared the team as best as I could and then everything is out of your hands. It’s a horrible feeling.
“But the more you do it the more you get used to it. It gets easier but it’s still not easy. The highs are huge, better than when you are a player but the lows are much worse.”
National boss Giggs has warmed to the role since, guiding Wales to Euro 2020 finals qualification at the first attempt.
The 46-year-old has a contract with the Welsh FA until the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and says he is happy with his current job despite the attraction of day-to-day club management.
Asked if he is keen to move into club football after Wales, Giggs told an MUTV group chat: “I’m not too sure. I’m enjoying international football. I enjoy the intensity when we do meet up.
“There are frustrations, of course, you don’t get a chance to work with the players and improve them over a period of time.
“Lifestyle-wise, it’s good. It’s not as intense as club football. I found that for the two years working under Louis (van Gaal as United assistant), it was intense and you don’t get much rest.
“At the moment I’m really happy with what I’m doing with Wales. It’s going to be a really interesting two years. We’ve got the Euros and then the World Cup will be a smaller, condensed space because usually you get time in between.
“I’ll probably see how I go after that. But I have no plans at the moment. I’m enjoying it with Wales.”
Giggs admits he has taken some traits from ex-United boss Sir Alex Ferguson – including the hairdryer.
He laughed: “It has been known that I’m a ranter. Half-time is one of the most difficult things as a manager. You haven’t got long.
“It’s not difficult losing your rag or you’re not playing well or the players haven’t done what you’ve said. That’s the easy bit. It’s when you come in at 2-0, that’s the hard bit to maintain that they do it again.
“I actually enjoy it a lot more if I have to have a go at them because you’ve got something to say and you get it off your chest. I’m pretty calm but if the players don’t do what I’ve said then there’s no messing about. I just rip into them.”
Ryan Giggs scores sublime extra-time solo goal vs Arsenal to send Man United through to the 1999 FA Cup final
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
