Trapattoni pleased with progress after first win

GIOVANNI TRAPATTONI last night professed himself happy that his message to his players is starting to get through, after Ireland beat non-league Esperanco de Lagos 3-1 in the second and last full training game of their Algarve trip to earn the Italian his first win as boss.

Said the Irish manager: “Before the match I clarified what worked well and what didn’t work well in the first game (a 1-1 draw with Portimonense). This evening I saw the positives come through. The marking was good, the movement off the ball was perfect, and generally they played more freely. About 60 to 70% of what I told them came through, and they did it with composure and confidence.

“I discovered qualities I didn’t pick up on before in players such as Kevin Foley and Alex Bruce. I found also reassurance in the performances of Duff, Doyle, and Keogh. We have harder matches ahead, against Serbia and Colombia, and thanks to these matches in Portugal I can now say I can put my trust in the younger players.”