Jake O'Brien: It's not about developing any more, it's about winning

O’Brien is on course to be part of an Ireland side refined by O’Shea in this stopgap period and soldered by the new permanent boss due to take over in early April.

Tue, 19 Mar, 2024 - 23:00

John Fallon

THERE’S a softness in Jake O’Brien’s voice until the tone rises into the alchemy of delivering the money line.

“Growing up,” begins the inquisitor to the debut Ireland call-up, “What players did you look up to in Irish context?”

“Obviously, John,” O’Brien asserts.

“John would have been the centre-half I looked up to and it's amazing that now he's my manager. From watching him to playing under him.”

For those guessing, that’s John O’Shea – minding the house as caretaker boss for two friendlies against Belgium and Switzerland.

Twenty years on from a younger Munsterman heading to one of those countries – from Manchester United to Royal Antwerp – another Red Devils fan undertook that rite of passage.

Both tall, athletic but adept centre-backs, they share similar style and personality.

Nothing too high or low, good and bad days but they’re unified by absorbing a run of better days this year.

Last summer, once O’Brien franked his season-long loan in Belgium by guiding RWD Molenbeek to promotion, he saw a better future beyond his parent club Crystal Palace.

Lyon spotted his potential, Laurent Blanc snaring a bargain by brokering a €1.5m bid purchase. It helped that both clubs were part of the Eagles Football Group, owned by US billionaire John Textor.

O'Brien during a Republic of Ireland training session at the FAI National Training Centre in Abbotstown, Dublin. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

Somebody O’Brien calls a good friend - Molenbeek was also part of his stable – Textor’s stewardship, allied to poor results, provoked anger from the loyal Lyon following.

They had the memories of a past generation to cherish, when the likes of Karim Benzema, Juninho and Florent Malouda turbocharged them to dominate Ligue 1.

Textor was treated with suspicion by the hardcore and soon the crowd turned as a relegation battle threatened. Blanc exited and another continental legend, Fabio Grosso, lasted eight games after him.

Their sole victory up to December was sealed by O’Brien’s first goal in French football. If the team was on the slide, the 22-year-old was directing upwards.

“The start of the season was very tough because we weren't winning many games,” admits the Corkman, tuning up for his Ireland debut on Saturday.

“It was back and forward really but since the break at Christmas, we have kind of turned things around.

“We have got wins and there's a more positive atmosphere around the place. For now, it's about looking up the table and getting as far as we can and we obviously have the Cup as well.”

That they certainly have, soaring from bottom to tenth, moving to within eight points of Lens in sixth. European qualification is attainable through the Coupe de France too. They face Valenciennes in the quarter-finals after the international window.

O’Brien is central to that tilt and is on course to be part of an Ireland side refined by O’Shea in this stopgap period and soldered by the new permanent boss due to take over in early April.

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“It's been a great week - getting the Ireland call-up and scoring the goal (the winner against Toulouse),” explained the strapping 6’5” defender.

“I was more hoping I’d get the call, as I’m having a good season, but you never know with these things.

“I know John from working with him in the U21s and he's a good manager. He rang me a week before the squad was being announced, just saying that I could be in it and to not book any holidays during the break.”

There’ll be ample scope for relaxation during the Euros but this double-header could supply the springboard to discommode injured trio John Egan, Shane Duffy and Liam Scales from the reckoning.

Even if O’Shea continues Stephen Kenny’s tradition of deploying three centre-backs, one of O’Brien, Nathan Collins, Dara O’Shea and Andrew Omobamidele will miss out against the side ranked fourth in the world.

“We have good players throughout the squad but especially in my position,” noted the man who moved as a teen from Cork City to Palace in 2021 at 19.

“For me, I'm coming here to train hard and prove what I'm like. I’m used to the pressure from playing at Lyon. The fans can be on you but I think they have a right to because of the size of the club.

“But, for a young player, that's what you have to do. You must try to win games. It's not about developing any more, it's about winning. Especially for Lyon who are used to winning. This season hasn't been the best but I think we have turned it around.”

Possessing talent in the calibre of Alexandre Lacazette, Nemanja Matić, Corentin Tolisso and Saïd Benrahma can achieve that but their understated new recruit is just as crucial to their revival.

Saturday should be his first step towards working towards emulating centurion O’Shea.