MX23RW : Saturday, June 12 07:20:52| >> :120:30284:30284:

Aaron Ramsey insists he is "in a good place" ahead of Euro 2020

Aaron Ramsey insists he is
© Reuters
The 30-year-old Juventus midfielder was named in the official Euro 2016 team of the tournament.

Aaron Ramsey is confident his fitness concerns are over and he can cope with the demands of tournament football for Wales at Euro 2020.

Ramsey has been plagued by injury issues over the past few seasons and missed many games for club and country.

But the 30-year-old Juventus midfielder expects his body to stand up to Wales' group schedule of three games in nine days, starting with their tournament opener against Switzerland in Baku on Saturday.

Wales v Albania – International Friendly – Cardiff City Stadium
Aaron Ramsey (right) got pre-Euro 2020 minutes under his belt by playing an hour against Albania on Saturday (Nick Potts/PA)

"I feel like I'm in a good place," said Ramsey, who got minutes under his belt during Wales' Euro 2020 warm-up friendlies against Albania and France last week.

"I've definitely worked hard over the last few months to get my body back into a good place.

"I feel the last few years have been frustrating, to try and get any consistency going.

"Different environment, different methods, things like that. It's not something I've been used to.

"I was at one club for a very long time and I think adapting to that took a lot longer, I've had to change a few things."

Ramsey's 11-year stay at Arsenal ended two summers ago when he moved to Italy.

He has started only 24 league games for Juventus during his time in Serie A and his attendance record for Wales also makes pretty dismal reading.

Ramsey has featured in only 19 of the 44 games Wales have played since reaching the semi-finals of Euro 2016, leading some supporters to question his commitment to the national cause.

"I'm a proud Welshman who wants to play for Wales and help my team as much as I can," said Ramsey, whose performances in France five years ago saw him named in the official Euro 2016 team of the tournament.

"To have missed a few games over the last few years has been very frustrating and difficult.

"Hopefully now that's behind me and I can look forward to all these games in the European Championships.

"It's a different set-up with a different environment (to Euro 2016), but we're all excited to be going into it and waiting for that first whistle."

Wales will stay in Baku for their second game against Turkey before heading for Rome to play group favourites Italy.

"It's a very difficult group," said Ramsey, one of eight survivors from the Wales squad that reached the last four in France.

"But our target is to get out of the group, so we're going to have to be fully focussed and hit the ground running.

"It's going to be essential for me and the players that have experienced it all before to help the other boys through this.

"But they're a good bunch with a lot of quality between them, so I'm sure they'll be just fine.

"We've had a year delay and there's so much gone on in that period, that now we're just grateful to go out there and actually play – with fans as well, which is going to make it extra special."

ID:450583: cacheID:450583:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:7755:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Did you know...?
Wales caretaker manager Robert Page pictured on March 27, 2021
Read Next:
Robert Page lavishes praise on Kieffer Moore
>
Read more about Aaron Ramsey Football

rhs 2.0
Euro 2020 fixtures
Saturday, June 12, 2021
Jun 12, 2021
5pm
Jun 12, 2021
8pm
Sunday, June 13, 2021
Jun 13, 2021
2pm
Jun 13, 2021
5pm
Jun 13, 2021
8pm
Monday, June 14, 2021
 
5pm
Jun 14, 2021
8pm
Tuesday, June 15, 2021
Jun 15, 2021
5pm
Todays Game Header Right
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CManchester CityMan City38275683325186
2Manchester UnitedMan Utd382111673442974
3Liverpool38209968422669
4Chelsea381910958362267
5Leicester CityLeicester382061268501866
6West Ham UnitedWest Ham381981162471565
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs381881268452362
8Arsenal381871355391661
9Leeds UnitedLeeds38185156254859
10Everton38178134748-159
11Aston Villa38167155546955
12Newcastle UnitedNewcastle38129174662-1645
13Wolverhampton WanderersWolves38129173652-1645
14Crystal Palace38128184166-2544
15Southampton38127194768-2143
16Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton38914154046-641
17Burnley38109193355-2239
RFulham38513202753-2628
RWest Bromwich AlbionWest Brom38511223576-4126
RSheffield UnitedSheff Utd3872292063-4323

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Transfer Talk Daily
Match previews - twice weekly
Morning Briefing (7am UTC)
Ultra close-up image of Kevin De Bruyne [NOT FOR USE IN ARTICLES]Get the latest transfer news, match previews and news direct to your inbox!