Andrews hints 'cute' Poyet used inside knowledge to prepare for June encounter

CALL OUT: Coach Keith Andrews during a Republic of Ireland press conference. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

Keith Andrews has suggested that Greece manager Gus Poyet used inside knowledge to prepare his side for their crunch meeting with the Republic of Ireland in Athens back in June.

With France and the Netherlands the overwhelming favourites to claim the two automatic qualification spots for Euro 2024, the two matches between the Irish and the Greeks were marked as key clashes in determining who would finish third in Group B and with it earn a playoff berth.

In the end, it was Poyet’s men who would earn the three points with a 2-1 victory at the home of AEK Athens while Stephen Kenny and his side have since received heavy criticism for their display on the night.

During his post-match press conference, Poyet said; “We prepared under (Ireland using) their two main systems, 5-4-1 and 5-3-2.

“When had the impression that you were really playing football with the ball on the floor, playing through the thirds, going wide, putting players in the box and I was happy because of the way that you played.” 

And speaking ahead of the Dublin rematch, the Ireland assistant manager has hinted that Poyet used Irish staff based in England to help give his team the upper hand.

"In terms of this game coming up, I don't think I can say anything here that would jeopardise it as I am sure he will be reading, and getting some Irish staff in clubs around England to come in and watch his training session and have an opinion or view of sorts that will maybe help his game plan,” said Andrews.

When asked to clarify what he meant by those comments, the former Ireland midfielder added; "Well, Gus has a thing where invites certain people in to watch training pre-Athens. I am sure that assisted his preparations."

"He is quite cute, very experienced in his preparation. He said certain things post-game, he alluded to, he has done his homework...

"It is out there, it is not me, there was a text off my phone. It is out there; I am sure you will look into it."

Although Ireland’s hopes of reaching the Euros in Germany next summer are hanging by a thread coming into this double-header against Greece on Friday before they travel to Faro to face Gibraltar on Monday, two positive performances and results will at least ease the pressure on the management team led by Stephen Kenny if nothing else.

Kenny’s and Andrews’ positions will be discussed amongst the FAI upon the completion of the campaign when a thorough review will be led by director of football Marc Canham with recommendations then being made to the board.

“You’ll have to ask them (the FAI) about that,” said Andrews on the prospect of earning a new contract.

“In terms of us and in terms of what we do, between last month and this month, nothing changed so the desire to succeed in this job has been the same since day one to the day after the loss to the Dutch and today.

“Ultimately the powers that be decide post-November, post-March, post-next summer, whenever that will be.

“We just have to keep doing what we believe in and what we believe in is the quality of our players, that they can succeed and play in a certain way that we have implemented over a period of time.

“The Greece game for us was disappointing, I certainly don’t shy away from that, I take responsibility for that, we do as a staff. So going into this week, how that swings back in our favour makes contract offers etc more prevalent or realistic, it’s winning games.”