COLEMAN 'DEFIANT' BUT TAKES A GRILLING. THE TRANSCRIPT

Chris Coleman on the defensive over Gareth Bale confusion and passport embarrassment
7th Sep 2013.

The Wales boss faced a grilling over the defeat to Macedonia, Gareth Bale's fitness and his own passport gaffe. Here, we bring you the press conference transcript



A dejected Chris Coleman.

Wales manager Chris Coleman was defiant last night as he faced the media following the 2-1 defeat against Macedonia in Skopje.

The result came at the end of a difficult 48 hours for the Welsh boss after he failed to make the team flight to Skopje on Thursday morning after losing his passport.

That embarrassing gaffe meant assistant boss Kit Symons was forced to take over training and media duties on Thursday afternoon as Coleman flew in later after resolving what were initially described by the FAW as 'passport issues'.

Last night's loss also saw the most expensive player in the world, Gareth Bale, named among the substitutes but remain on the bench throughout as Wales slumped to a another disappointing result in World Cup qualifying Group A.

So, what did Coleman have to say about 'passportgate', Bale's non-appearance and another missed opportunity against weak opposition?

Here, we bring you the transcript of Coleman's press conference in the bowels of the Philip II Arena.





Question: Can you explain why Gareth Bale remained on the bench?
Coleman: "Not fit, not ready. I can't take a chance with him. It was nice to have him with us but you have to reach a certain level before you are considered and he was too far off.

"If there was any chance of him coming on the pitch he would have been there. It would have been ideal in the last 20 minutes in a game like that."






Question: Why did you bring him if he was not ready?

"Because you never know, there's always a chance. He's with us for 10 days and that's a long time in football. You never know if there's a chance...even if he came on for 10 minutes.

"I'd imagine it's obvious why we brought him if there's a chance he could play a part in the two games."




Question: But you did name him in the squad for this match?

"We were never ready to use him. Look, if you're an opposition manager and see Gareth Bale on the bench with a chance to come on that will change his mind tactically. That's what we're thinking.

"We knew before the game he couldn't play and put him on the bench so just maybe throw them a little bit."







Question: Were you not tempted to bring him on for the last 10 minutes?

"Nope, no. Because you're thinking about tonight and one game. We're thinking about sending players back fit and not risking them.

"You go and write your headlines and you'll do that, no doubt, but we have to think about long-term relationships and looking after players properly.

"That's why he never played tonight. It would have been the same for Jack Collison, Aaron Ramsey...if there's a problem and they can't play they don't, simple as that.








Question: But the game is about results and you needed points?

"What part of he's not fit are you not listening to. He was not fit to play. Why didn't I bring him on? Because he's not fit."

Are you not opening yourself up to criticism because he was named in the squad and seen on bench but you did not use him?

"What do you think? You think I didn't use him? When he was fit?"







Question: But that's what it looked like?

"I'm not worried about what you think. Or what the outside thinks. All I worry about is the opposition manager and the opposition. Because if I'm him and Gareth Bale's on the bench I'm thinking maybe he could come on the pitch and whether he does or not it maybe effect his thinking.

"So, what people want to think on the outside is up to them. If Gareth Bale was fit to play he would have started. If he was fit to come on, he would have come on. I spoke to the boy today. Not ready to play, simple as that."






Question: Do you have anything to say regarding the issues with the passport?

"No, but you have obviously. You write it. Listen, you have a look at Welsh football and where it's going. Have a look at Swansea and Cardiff.

"We are building a good little team here. You won't write that we've never had everybody on the pitch for two years.

"You won't write that. You won't write that the last six or eight games have been very positive. You write about something like that. That's up to you. Write it."








Question: So you have no sort of apology to make that you weren't here the night before the game?

"What to you? (No) To who? (the Welsh public). What are you talking about, I'm sitting here. What you don't know is what we do the day before a game.

"If you stood around and watched us train abroad when we play away from home you'd see what we do. It's next to nothing. All the work had been done. You make out of it what you want to make out of it.

"Do you know, if I was sitting here when we'd won, you wouldn't be making so much out of it. But you will because we've lost, but that's up to you.

"We've lost a game and played well, very well."

Arrogant c**t

Arrogant c**t

This . He should apologise for the national team losing to some f*cking tin pot nation

Arrogant c**t

Exactly what I thought

Coleman should accept the decision to put an unfit player who had no chance of taking any part in the actual game on the bench was a mistake, and not just any player but the player who has just very recently become the Worlds most expensive footballer, all eyes were on Gareth Bale and now that focus is on Chris Coleman and the Welsh football team because of the managers mistake.

Man up and fess up!

He doesn't have a clue!

That press conference is an embarrasment. His one chance was to keep the media onside but if he's going down the route of arguing with them he's long gone. Good riddance.

his tactic of putting Bale on the bench to un-nerve the opposing manager really worked. Coleman you're an ass

remember the programme fawlty towers, welcolme to the welsh fa

I missed this earlier. Wow. Just reinforced my belief that he doesn't have a clue.

I missed this earlier. Wow. Just reinforced my belief that he doesn't have a clue.

Owain, Interesting read and your right Coleman has not got a clue how to manage Wales.

So he put Bale on the bench to "tactically unnerve" the opposing manager? Why would the Macedonia manager be worrying about Bale when he's on the bench? Coleman, the Macedonia manager would only worry about Gareth Bale when he's ON the pitch! Idiot!!

So he put Bale on the bench to "tactically unnerve" the opposing manager? Why would the Macedonia manager be worrying about Bale when he's on the bench? Coleman, the Macedonia manager would only worry about Gareth Bale when he's ON the pitch! Idiot!!

If I was the Macedonian manager looking at Gareth Bale on the bench I would think, 'right lets score more goals than Wales can score before that b*stard comes on for the last 10-20 minutes' which funnily enough is exactly what he did and Gareth never came on.

If Coleman made a choice to play mind games fine hes the manager and its his call but when his 'tactics' dont work he needs to explain and apologise. The apology would go 'I tried something and it didnt work for that I apologise but I would like to remind fans that we are trying our best to get as many points on the table as possible be that 1 or 3 points'

If it was a major nation and we were looking for a slight advantage I'd understand but it was Macedonia, we have the played to beat them already. Pub mentality

He's on a par with Bobby gould, this latest farce will put Welsh football back years AGAIN..

Son of Toshack

Why can't he just answer the questions properly instead of saying "you're going to write this and this"?

Prick.

WANKER

Weird