Trapattoni happy he’s still in charge

Giovanni Trapattoni says he is “happy and grateful” to still be manager of Ireland, maintains he has “a good relationship” with FAI boss John Delaney and insists that, in being seen to act on the association’s suggestion that he attend more games in England, his authority as manager is not being undermined.

The night after Ireland’s 4-1 victory over the Faroe Islands, an FAI Board of Management meeting in Dublin gave their backing to Trapattoni, ending days of feverish speculation about his position in the wake of the embarrassing 1-6 defeat to Germany at the Aviva Stadium.

Speaking about that tumultuous week at his squad announcement for the upcoming friendly against Greece, Trapattoni yesterday revealed his reaction to the news – which came in a telephone call from John Delaney immediately after the board meeting – that he had retained his position as Ireland manager.

“Obviously I was happy because, I repeat, I am proud to be here,” he said. “And not only proud. Also grateful, grateful for our players because we can achieve the good results.. Because if I ask the players to do this but the players do something else, then it really is finished because the players do what they want. In this moment I was happy because the president said to me that the board confirmed your position.”

Trapattoni said he was not thinking about his own future before the Faroes game but rather concentrating on making sure he exuded a sense of calm for the benefit of his players.

“I am a realist, not an optimist and not a pessimist,” he said. “I am a manager. I know what I said: the victory has 100 fathers, the loser is an orphan. I stayed calm.

“I might raise my voice slightly. But I’m not angry. Sometimes players know what they want to do but, because they are tense, they can’t do it. I know this. I have the experience. I check. Because if you’re nervous, they’ll be nervous as well. I must give them calm and trust. In fact after the Germany game, I gave the team confidence, trust and belief. And, with the result against the Faroes, they answered us — not only me, you, everyone. It was difficult to win in the Faroes. Many teams don’t win in the Faroes.”

Trapattoni went on to speak about his relationship with John Delaney, with whom he had a lengthy clear-the-air meeting in Dublin at the request of the FAI.

“I know my job, I know what can happen in one day,” said the 73-year-old. “My confidence is in players and the team and their ability to get the result but I can say I have a good relationship with John Delaney. Because I am sure John Delaney, after a bad result, can’t defend me. He has the responsibility. I must have respect for his position.

“He doesn’t interfere in my professional sphere. I respect him, he respects me. John never asked me why this or the other. I must have respect for this position. This is the president of the FAI.”

And while Trapattoni did confirm that the issue of his limited attendance at club games in England was raised by the Chief Executive he insisted that this was “not interference with my job”. And he once again defended his DVD habit as giving him the necessary time and space in which to review players and performances.

Said Trapattoni: “(He said) I know you see many games (on DVD) but for our people it would be better if sometime you go’. ‘No problem, Mr President.’ For me it’s no problem. I can go every Saturday. The problem is that sometimes the Irish players do not play. But to have somebody make a suggestion doesn’t take authority over the team away from me. It does not cancel my authority. My authority is with the team. I don’t speak very well English but after making exercises with the players I always ask if they understand. And they say yes.”

Indeed, Trapattoni will be back on the road again this weekend and back in Norwich too but this time with the primary intention of hoping to see Glenn Whelan return from injury for visitors Stoke. The home side’s Wes Hoolahan has already done enough to impress the manager, getting a recall to the latest squad, with Trapattoni confirming the midfielder will definitely get at least 45 minutes of action against Greece.

With Robbie Keane allowed to stay in America for this one, it looked like an ideal opportunity for Shane Long to stake another claim to a striker’s berth. However, in a somewhat unusual move, the Tipperary man has been left out of the provisional panel pending an injury scan at his club. Normally, the reverse applies, in that a player who is considered an injury doubt is included in one of Trap’s squad until such time as he is ruled out.

However, the word yesterday was if passed fit by West Brom, then Long will be expected to join up with the national squad.

“It would be a surprise for me if he plays Saturday,” is how Trapattoni put it, “but if he plays on Saturday he will be with us.”