Chris Coleman wants Wales to create a new World Cup buzz after revealing that he has been on a post Euro-2016 downer.
Coleman guided Wales to their best-ever performance at a major tournament this summer when his side reached the semi-finals in France. But he has echoed the sentiments of some of his players by saying life after the euphoria of the Euros has taken some getting used to.
“When I got home, for the two weeks after it I think my wife was expecting me to be a certain way – and I was not,” said Coleman ahead of the opening 2018 World Cup qualifier against Moldova on Monday.
“I was on a bit of a downer. The situation is so exciting but when it finishes, you don’t get weened off it. It is over and you are back into reality as fathers and husbands.
“It was really hard and I know a lot of the lads did too. You miss that buzz.
“It was so special, but it is gone, that moment is finished... so, we have to create something new.”
Coleman has had little time for relaxation since Wales were beaten by eventual European champions Portugal.
His TV presenter wife Charlotte gave birth to their second child, and Premier League Hull City targeted him to fill their managerial vacancy before the FA of Wales rejected the Tigers’ approach.
But Coleman is now focused on a campaign which sees Wales pitted against Austria, Serbia, Ireland, Moldova and Georgia.
“I am not sure people think we will sail through the group, but there may be an expectation of us playing super attractive football, creating chances and scoring loads of goals,” said Coleman.
“If it goes that way it will be great, but I know football and it is rarely like that.
“Teams will not open up against us and we have to prepare for that challenge.”
Wales are without injured pair Aaron Ramsey and Jonathan Williams for the Moldova opener in Cardiff, while keeper Wayne Hennessey is also a concern after missing Crystal Palace’s 1-1 draw with Bournemouth on Saturday with a leg injury.
But Coleman has promised the key is keeping the philosophy which has proved so successful in the last two years.
“We have to stick to our identity,” he said.
“When we are on the pitch the players have shown what it means to them to represent Wales.
“They stick to the game plan and if we get a good result against Moldova it has to mean the same as the results in the last campaign. Be it Andorra or Belgium, if we got something out of those games it meant the same. That is how it has to be.
“We spoke about being streetwise in the last campaign and we need to show it, especially in these opening games because it is a new challenge.”