By David Parsons
Connor Roberts insists the Wales players are as excited as the fans to see what sort of team and style Craig Bellamy sends out to play against Turkey in his first game in charge.
The clash at Cardiff City Stadium on Friday night will be the first of six Nations League matches the new Wales boss is hoping to use to hone his side for a major assault on qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.
“You can see there is a new energy around the place. Everyone is excited to see what a Craig Bellamy team looks like, how they play,” said Roberts.
“It’s the same with the players. We all love playing for Wales and we all have to impress the boss by tuning into his ideas and showing him we want to be part of something successful.”
Connor Roberts believes that under Craig Bellamy's leadership, Wales will embrace an exciting new style of football as they focus on their long-term goal of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup ⚽#BBCFootball pic.twitter.com/t0H0KUhbu7
— BBC Sport Wales (@BBCSportWales) September 3, 2024
Roberts has the inside track on what to expect after Bellamy was named as Rob Page’s replacement, having worked under the former striker in the season Burnley won the Championship title in 2023.
Roberts and former Clarets assistant boss Bellamy then started the Premier League campaign together the following season, under then manager Vincent Kompany.
Kompany left on the back of relegation to take charge of Bayern Munich this summer, while Bellamy was appointed Wales manager following the dismissal of Page.
The Wales wing-back is expecting a new look team playing a new style of football – one he expects will ultimately be good enough to make up for the bitter disappointment of missing out in a penalty shoot-out this year for the European Championship finals in Germany.
“Everyone is excited to see what a Craig Bellamy team looks like.”
Connor Roberts knows having worked under Bellamy at Burnley. Here he is on the “exciting” new style, “new energy” and granular detail of the new Wales boss: https://t.co/FVx3Lj6vmM
— Dafydd Pritchard (@DafPritchard) September 3, 2024
“It has been exactly the same as when Vincent and Craig first came to Burnley – a lot of information and a lot of meetings,” said Roberts.
“I think it is going to be like that for the foreseeable future until we understand exactly what is required of us. We all knew that was coming.
“When a new manager comes in and they have a lot of new messages and information then it is always going to be like that. With Craig and his staff it is even more so than any normal manager.
“There is a lot of information, but the only way we are going to improve and become a better football team is if we clue in and listen.
“For me it has been relatively easy because I’ve heard the messages a 100 times before. I also like to think I’m one of the clever boys in the squad!
“Maybe it will take the boys a few meetings, maybe even a few camps, to get every single bit of information and to know exactly what to do.
“The only way we are going to get better and become a really good football team is if every player in the squad understands what is expected from us.
“When there were whispers about Craig coming in, and whether it was right or not, I can assure you I thought it was 100 per cent the right decision. He’s a fantastic coach who lives and breathes football – he absolutely loves it.
“We all want to be successful and achieve things in a Wales shirt and the way to do that is to listen and take on the information he’s giving us and learn how this manager wants us to play.”
"Contrary to popular belief, he isn't what he used to be like when he was a player."
🎙️🏴 Connor Roberts sy’n trafod Craig Bellamy.@Cymru | @S4Cchwaraeon pic.twitter.com/ZMaMlpdQLo
— Sgorio ⚽️ (@sgorio) September 3, 2024
Bellamy, who captained Wales during a 78-cap career between 1998 and 2013, makes his managerial bow against Euro 2024 quarter-finalists Turkey in Cardiff on Friday.
Wales then head to Montenegro three days later for the second of their Group B4 fixtures.
Interesting to observe Craig Bellamy in the media's first access to Wales training under him.
Hands-on during the session, in players' ears, calling players out for missing cones during the warm-up.
A very different approach to his predecessor.
— Matthew Southcombe (@MattSouth7) September 3, 2024
Read our recent DS stories on Craig Bellamy
Aaron Ramsey Will Keep The Wales Armband . . . But It’s No Big Deal, Says Craig Bellamy