Kenny: 'We are absolutely gutted that we haven’t won'

GUTTED: Ireland manager Stephen Kenny and assistant coach John O’Shea dejected after the game. Pic:©INPHO/Ryan Byrne

Stephen Kenny certainly wasn’t admitting his time as Republic of Ireland senior manager could be coming to and end in the immediate aftermath of his team’s 2-1 loss to the Netherlands on Sunday night.

When pressed on his disappointment with the result and the possible end of qualification Stephen Kenny was unable to offer a positive response.

“Within the group it is, we will have to see if we can qualify for a play-off in March and that has to be decided over the next couple of months,” Kenny replied.

“I thought our level of pressing was exceptional in that first half. We were prepared to go man to man against one of the top seeds and a team Argentina beat on penalties at the World Cup quarter-finals.

“We were prepared to go man to man right across the pitch. We got our reward (with Adam Idah’s penalty). To be honest with out, we probably should have capitalised on some attacking situations after that goal and create better opportunities than we did. We won brilliant tackles and recovered them and had chances to go again but just didn’t capitalise.” 

The Republic of Ireland manager was then asked if he felt Holland were there for the taking, especially during a frenetic opening half. That was until the concession of a Dutch equaliser, something Kenny was not happy with.

“I was just disappointed with the goal that we conceded, I was very disappointed with that,” Stephen Kenny added.

“They pushed Gapko high on the left as their wing-back which tied Matt Doherty in. It gave them an extra resource to recycle the ball.

“For whatever reasons, our energy levels couldn’t quite sustain that level of intensity. I am not trying to make excuses but the 90 minutes in Paris, where we put in a phenomenal effort three days ago, was an impact on that.

“Nevertheless, we should (have been able to cope) but they are a top international team and one of the best in Europe. They were going to have spells of possession. They forced us into a back five but we needed to see out that difficult period too.” 

Ireland conceding a goal after half time has become an unwanted and damaging statistic under Stephen Kenny. Sadly, it happened again at the Aviva on Sunday night.

“It was 11 minutes after half time but we needed to see out that period that they got on top,” the Irish manager admitted.

“Look, you do need to get results. We finished third in a World Cup campaign behind Serbia and Portugal and blooded over 20 players in that period.

“We do need to find a way to win. We are absolutely gutted that we haven’t won there against one of the best teams in Europe.

“You have to see out those difficult periods and we didn’t do that for the second Dutch goal. As for changing the formation earlier, we went 3-5-2 for a while in that period.

“It is certainly not my decision (to be kept on as senior manager). We have two (qualification) matches in October, Greece and Gibraltar. After that, we will have to see if we play off the following March which where there is still a chance. I think the players gave everything tonight and in the first half were absolutely excellent.

“We have come the wrong side of games against France, the best team in the world, and Holland there tonight, one of the best in Europe.

“We are missing four or five of our players tonight. The forwards we are building out team round. It is what it is but we gave everything but came up short.”