McCarthy has sympathy for Kerr
McCarthy claimed “nothing has changed” since he found himself in an almost identical position when the Swiss knocked Ireland out of the European Championships at Lansdowne Road three years ago, a defeat which ended McCarthy’s reign.
“I was just disappointed that before the game, all the chat was about Brian and his job and not about the performance and beating them, the same as in Cyprus.
“It’s amazing, three years on from when I was in a similar position - it would appear that nothing has changed.
“They don’t learn anything, they still attack the manager and players before a game. They should wait and see whether they qualify and get into a play-offs and, if they don’t, then it’s all guns blazing by all means.
“It’s like when you get up, stay up, win the league or don’t. But don’t do it and affect the preparations for the game. It does tend to sour it a bit for me.”
McCarthy expressed sympathy for Kerr after Ireland’s World Cup exit, and also for England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson, who was under heavy fire just before qualification was finally secured.
“England were in a great position and had one lousy result against Northern Ireland. Then they had two good results, so they have repaired it.
“With Ireland, it was being in front against Israel twice and then drawing. I saw Brian’s comments after the game - 11 of the 12 among the top four have all ended up in draws except they lost to France, which makes a big difference.
“It was very sad to see them go out. I can empathise and I can sympathise with him because I do know what he’s gone through. I have had that.”
With Sunderland playing host to Manchester United tomorrow, McCarthy refused to be tempted into comments about his old Saipan adversary Roy Keane.
“Congratulations, you’ve managed to get him in even despite the fact that he’s not playing,” he said. “It’s unbelievable.”
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