Trap hopes O’Shea can taste final glory
Speaking after a training session at the ground of FC Lagos yesterday, the Ireland manager explained why he won’t be making contact with O’Shea before tonight’s Champions’ League showdown.
“I am superstitious about wishing people good luck before a match in case they lose,” he said. “I prefer to congratulate them after the victory. I sent Robbie Keane a text after Spurs won the League Cup Final and I hope I will be congratulating John O’Shea after tonight’s match.”
In common with the whole world of football, Trapattoni, his backroom staff and the Irish players will be watching tonight’s game at their hotel.
“I said to the players today that I have 50 years in football but that I look at every game of football because in every game there is something new. It’s important, it’s possible to improve always. The players today are here (gestures with his hand), tomorrow here (raises hand) after tomorrow here (lifts hand higher still). They can go up. I think they understand because they have a willingness to learn. So, sure, we will watch the game.”
Diplomatically, Trapattoni declined to say whether he thinks Manchester United or Chelsea will prevail and, when asked which players he likes at either club, merely grinned and said: “When I say Drogba or Ronaldo, then they are worth €10 million more.”
Naturally, he was much more forthcoming about his own squad of players on the morning after Ireland defeated non-league Lagos 3-1.
“I am very happy not because of the result but because of our attitude and what the players showed me,” he said. “I think with that mentality we can also do well against very important teams like Serbia and Colombia. I hope we can show this week in Portugal has been for us very, very important.
“Our attitude is very important. Yesterday, for example, I saw strikers pressing to help the midfield and also the midfield helping our defenders.”
By the sound of things, Ireland under Trapattoni will benefit from the accumulated wisdom of his long career in the game.
“In 30 years I have changed a lot,” he said. “30 years ago, football was another football. At the time, in Juventus, I played with a libero, a very famous libero, (Gaetano) Scirea. Our team always scored more goals and conceded less. Afterwards, with Liam and Tardelli, I played 4-4-2. In Germany 4-3-3 and in Portugal 4-3-3. Last year 4-4-1-1. I changed more. Here I think we have players we can change when we need to. We start with Robbie Keane. 4-4-2 or 4-4-1-1, for example with Robbie. We also have (Aiden) McGeady, who is important. We have a good chance to change the system.
Asked which players have impressed him so far, Trapattoni replied: “I know the famous ones already like Damien Duff, Stephen Hunt and Kevin Doyle. Alex Bruce has been a big surprise. He is calm and he plays with confidence and trust. Also yesterday (Kevin) Foley was not bad. Foley played very like me yesterday but I think he can become better. (Paul) McShane, I think will play with more confidence. He is fast, he heads the ball. And (Andy) Keogh plays football. His intelligence is important. When the ball comes he understands immediately what to do. That for me is very important.”
Following Monday’s night’s game, Shane Long (calf), Wes Hoolahan (knee), Darren Potter (heel) and Daryl Murphy (Achilles) sat out yesterday’s training session, but Trapattoni emphasised that this was purely precautionary and that what he called “light” knocks won’t rule them out of Saturday’s game against Serbia.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
