Trap fighting fit ahead of European showdowns
Ireland face Armenia in Yerevan on September 3 before taking on Andorra in the Aviva Stadium on September 7. Assistant manager Marco Tardelli will name the squad for the opening qualifying matches on Friday but Trapattoni says he will be back calling the shots come matchday, after getting a clean bill of health following an operation.
“Armenia is only four or five hours flight. I can start my job immediately, no problem.” he said.
“I am very well. I had a fantastic doctor in Martin O’Donoghue. I had many good wishes, at St Patrick’s Ward, I thank them, also the nurses and doctors at the hospital.
“The doctor said ‘you can work until you are 90 years old’.”
Trapattoni revealed he has already been back at work, studying footage of Ireland’s upcoming opponents.
“I think this time was not useless for me because I used this time to look at DVDs of Armenia. I am sure we are ready for this very, very important game. I have a lot of material, a lot of information. It will be very difficult.
“At home Armenia are very aggressive. We have to remember our attitude and performance and discipline, not only on the pitch but off it. We cannot react to provocation.”
Trapattoni admitted he did have some frustrations watching the 1-0 defeat to Argentina from his hospital bed, believing the absence of the ‘personality’ of some of his senior stars showed.
“Maybe in the first half we had too much respect for Argentina. We give them too much initiative but the second half, we show them we could also go and attack.
“We were missing five players, four important players. The team in the second half played well but we missed the personality of Doyle, of Whelan, of St Ledger, Lawrence, McGeady also, Hunt.
“I wanted to help the team but I could not. Marco did very well but in that moment, I couldn’t make better changes to the situation.”
Trapattoni admits he is worried about senior players — particularly strikers — picking up injuries.
“It’s important not to have injuries. In the last two years, we discovered new players. At the moment, I trust them even, when we are missing one or two. It’s important to continue to discover more players, especially, in the strikers because we have Robbie Keane and Kevin Doyle who are important and Caleb Folan is sometimes injured. Shane Long is growing, and young. It’s important to discover one or two strikers. On the wings we have enough good players.”
Trapattoni says he has spoken with Shay Given and believes he should remain with Manchester City.
“I spoke with him. He has a good mentality, he is a strong man. For him, there are teams not only in England but also Italy who Shay could play for. I assured him I think he can play again in Manchester. It is better he stay because I think he can play.”
But he believes Robbie Keane must make a decision on his future. “Robbie is a mature player. He is an important player. I spoke with him last week and told him he must decide. He could play like he did at Liverpool only sometimes, it is important he plays, not just Robbie, also Long and (Andy) Keogh. Robbie, I think it is important he plays every game.”
He also said he was “happy” that Stephen Ireland is set to get playing time with a likely move to Aston Villa, despite the Cobh man remaining in self-imposed exile from the Ireland squad, hoping he will make an international return in the future.
“I am happy for Stephen because he can play for this club. I consider all Irish players because, I look to the future. I don’t forget Stephen. We look at the new generation, I don’t forget this. We follow them in every game.”
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