Jake O'Brien: 'I’m cool and calm, don’t get fazed by moments nor like to get overexcited'

 Jake O'Brien won't be asking his childhood favourite Cristiano Ronaldo to swap jerseys on Tuesday. Pic:  Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

Cristiano Ronaldo was the player Jake O’Brien adored most on his regular Old Trafford trips as a kid but don’t expect him to chase the Portugal captain to swap jerseys on Tuesday.

It was the same at club level in the case of Kylian Mbappé last week.

O’Brien has spent the striker’s last PSG game marking him for Lyon but wasn’t bothered indulging fandom at the conclusion of the French Cup final he’d scored in.

“That’s the just the way I am,” said the centre-back in his soft-spoken Youghal accent.

“I’m not someone who asks for jerseys, especially after losing. I’m not the best person to come up to.

“I’m cool and calm, don’t get fazed by moments nor like to get overexcited.

“I like to take things as they come. Big moments like playing in Cup finals or my Ireland debuts is playing under pressure. That’s what I like to do.” 

He’s done it so well over the past year that a clatter of top European suitors are circling this summer and a place in the Ireland defence for the Nations League is within his grasp.

A video clip which emerged last week prior to the Cup decider showed the French President shaking the hands of each player in the tunnel.

The brief introduction from the club President for the Irishman went along the lines of him soaring from a two-week trial into a star and the task facing the French outfit – moreso multiclub owner John Textor – is retaining the 6’6” giant for their European campaign next season.

Among a galaxy of names, including Alexandre Lacazette, Nemanja Matić, Corentin Tolisso and Saïd Benrahma, O’Brien has been the standout in their season turnaround.

The 23-year-old had never played a top-flight game until October 1 when thrown into their relegation battle. By the end of the season, he’d featured 32 times and scored five times as they reached the decider and rose to fourth place.

“I suppose not, no,” he said about getting the opportunity to reflect on his ascent. “It was a rollercoaster season, a lot of things happened, good and bad.

“I maybe had three days of a break, was it? I got home on Monday after the Cup final, just to see family and friends, and it was back up here to the Ireland camp Thursday.

“But it's just part of football, isn't it?” 

As a relatively late developer, O’Brien’s first move came three years ago by signing for Crystal Palace from Cork City.

One of American billionaire Textor’s other clubs, Molenbeek, had the benefit of his presence last season, when he led the Belgians to promotion, and Lyon was selected for a permanent move amid rival interest from Manchester City’s umbrella group.

France’s south-east has been a welcome haven for himself and girlfriend, Sophie, even if the language levels are basic for now.

Between the future Ballon D’Or winner, Mbappé, to a multiple holder in Ronaldo on Tuesday in Aveiro, the universal talk is of a player still with a ceiling to reach.

“I studied a lot of him before the game,” O’Brien said of his recent approach to shackling Real Madrid’s blockbuster recruit.

“The main thing was to be focussed because once you take your eye off him for two seconds, he's in behind with those sharp movements. He's one of the best players in the world but I enjoyed the experience and the season overall. It probably suited my style to play in Europe”.

He’s franked his season by becoming a full international too. John O’Shea lived up to his promise by affording the second half of Friday’s win over Hungary, increasing the likelihood of figuring in the second half of the double-header against another nation heading to the Euros in Germany.

“Playing for my country is a moment I dreamt of,” he said of his bow, coming in his second camp following his initial call-up in March.

“There’s no better feeling than putting on the jersey in front of friends and family. This moment will stay with me forever.

“It was very important to be patient, to stick with it at club level to get my chance in this window and I’m sure I’ve taken it.

“There’s a lot of competition at centre-back but it’s healthy and brings out the best in me.” 

Working alongside a silky centre-back in his day has helped. Long may it continue for the interim boss, in O’Brien’s views.

“Ask any one of the lads and I don't think there's going to be one person who comes out to say they don't want John to stay,” he noted about the managerial limbo.

“Above that, but he's just a great guy to come to and talk about things.” 

O’Shea’s protégé has ensured they’ve had a lot of catching up to do.

Portugal v Ireland, Aveiro (Tuesday, 7.45pm).