China v Wales preview: Ryan Giggs makes managerial bow in China Cup
Wednesday 21 March 2018 14:05, UK
Ryan Giggs will take charge of Wales for the first time when they begin their two-game China Cup campaign on Thursday.
Wales will take on China at the 60,000-capacity Guangxi Sports Center Stadium in Nanning at 11.35am GMT, in the semi-final of the friendly cup which is in its second year.
Giggs said stepping out into the Wales dugout for the first time would be more nerve-wracking than for any of his 64 caps as a player.
The 44-year-old said: "I'm excited for the game. I've been in the job now over two months and this is why I took the job, for the football.
"I'll be much more nervous than I was as a player. I never really got nervous as a player, but coming into management is completely different as there are so many things to think about.
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"As a player, you're quite selfish and making sure you're doing your job within the team. But as a manager, you are always thinking, 'Have you forgotten anything? What can be improved?'
"So it's about preparing the team as best I can with my staff, then you evaluate what you could do better and what you did well. It's completely different from being a player."
Wales are the highest-ranked of the four national sides taking part, with Uruguay and Czech Republic, to take part in the competition, and will either play in the final or a third-place play-off on Monday at 7.35pm.
Team news
Giggs will be without Aaron Ramsey, who was omitted from the squad to receive treatment on what he would only call a "private matter", but does have Gareth Bale and Ashley Williams - who has been kept on as captain - at his disposal.
Opta stats
- This will be the first match between Wales and China PR.
- Seven of the last eight different managers to take charge of Wales (inc. caretakers) have lost their first ever match with the Dragons, with Bobby Gould the only man to win his opener (doesn't include second stints for managers).
- Wales have lost just two of their last 12 games, although both defeats have come in the most recent three matches (W4 D6).
- After winning back to back games against Uzbekistan and Qatar, China PR have since failed to win any of their last five (D2 L3).
