Derry keep feet on the ground

Derry chief executive Jim Roddy is adamant tonight’s glamorous UEFA Cup clash with Paris St Germain will be just “a day’s work” for the eircom League club.

An ambassador’s reception may not be part of the average working day for City’s players and manager Stephen Kenny, but they have otherwise been fully focused on the job in hand and there has been no chance for commemorative trips down the Champs Elysees or up the Eiffel Tower to help the occasion sink in.

“Stephen and the players are just treating it as another game. They might as well be staying at a hotel in Dublin as staying at a hotel in Paris, it’s very much a day’s work for the players,” Roddy said ahead of the second leg, with the sides level after a goalless first encounter.

“They’re very aware of the occasion and they are looking forward to it but they aren’t getting too carried away.

“That’s the hardest part and that is down to Stephen. He will b trying to keep the players’ feet on the ground.”

Win, lose or draw at the Parc des Princes, the Candystripes will have little time to reflect on the game before being whisked back home for domestic duty.

“We’re straight back after the game,” Roddy added. “We have an FAI Cup quarter-final on Sunday night (against UCD), and we’ve got a chartered flight home straight after the game.”

City are close to becoming the first Irish side to play in the group stages of either the Champions League or the UEFA Cup, and while it would require a huge upset, Roddy is confident the tactical approach will be right.

He said: “Knowing Stephen, he will get them to go out there and play football. I can’t see him sending a team out just to defend, because defending for a short time is OK but defending for 90 minutes against a team like Paris St Germain will be practically impossible.

“So I think they will play the game the way they played it at home – be very cautious but try to nick a goal and see what happens from there.”

City’s only injury doubt surrounds Sean Hargan, who suffered a groin strain in the league clash with Shelbourne last Friday.