Damien Duff: 'Its not about defending or retaining the title it's about winning the title'

Manager Damien Duff poses for a portrait during the Shelbourne FC Away Jersey. 

Damien Duff has banned title defence talk within his Shelbourne dressing-room as the Reds shape up to begin the new season on Friday fortnight.

The two-time Premier League winner and Ireland centurion masterminded the first Premier crown for the club in 18 years, defying their long odds to deny Shamrock Rovers an unprecedented fifth title in a row.

Despite lifting the trophy last November, Duff has circled Shamrock Rovers as favourites for the 2025 instalment.

The side Shels open their campaign against on St Valentine’s Night, Derry City, are another he puts ahead of them, as well as St Patrick’s Athletic.

“God, I’m barring an awful lot of words such as retain, defend and being chased,” the former Chelsea and Fulham winger said on Thursday at Tolka Park, launching the new away jersey, sponsored by Chadwicks.

“They are words I don't like and we haven't been using them. Saying defend the title feels to me like you are taking a backwards step and just trying to protect something.

“It's not about defending or retaining the title - it's about winning the title.

“We weren't favourites last year and I don't see us as favourites this year. Shamrock Rovers will always be favourites, Derry have a very experienced Northern Irish international football team now and St Pat's are near-on favourites as they won nine games in a row at the end of the season.

“Pressure? The only real pressure on our players comes from the staff. And that comes every day.”

Mipo Udobeko playing for Ireland U17 against Finland Pic: Tommy Dickson/Inpho

Duff last week recruited a midfielder he’d coached during his spell at Celtic, Kerr McInroy. He became the fifth addition following Ellis Chapman (Sligo Rovers), Mipo Odubeko (Fleetwood Town), Daniel Kelly (Derry City) and Ryan O'Kane (Dundalk).

“First and foremost, we wanted to bring a freshness to it,” he explained about the reinforcements.

“It would have been poor by me, the staff and the club if we didn't add to the squad.

“When you become champions and you win something, it's very easy to sit back and trust it's not broken but that's absolutely the time to strengthen.

“It's never nice to let players go but we have done, and I think we have brought in some serious quality.

“You are always looking at all units of the team. We haven't strengthened all units but we have brought in some serious quality.” Midfielder McInroy left Celtic after just two appearances, a similar story to Odubeko after his West Ham United breakthrough as a teenage striker.

Duff spoke about what the pair bring to the champions.

“Kerr seems to have caught a lot of people's eye already. Off the pitch, the amount of people who have texted me to say what a guy, classy, the Celtic education…everything he has done, his manners, how he holds himself, how he speaks to people and that has carried onto the pitch.

“I think he has surprised a lot of people. He came in, trained for a day and half, played against Waterford, we offered him a deal right away.

“Sometimes these class players come along and you can't turn them down. Kerr’s made a hard decision coming over.

“I tried to sign him 18 months ago and at the time he didn't seem eager to leave Scotland but now he realises there's life outside Scotland, I am pleased when lads make decisions like that.

“I also tried to sign Mipo in the last couple of windows. It’s a big decision for him to leave England, where every Irish kid wants to get to. Whether that’s right or wrong, I don’t see that ever changing.

“Mipo was in England for many years, his family lived there, and I’d asked him a couple of times and in the end I convinced him to come.

“He’s been a pleasure and brilliant. The pace, strength, athleticism and finishing power.

“He’s a fantastic addition but it’s all just talk and words at the minute. Myth, gossip and on paper but doing it on the pitch is where it matters.

“Mipo has threatened over the years but as I’ve openly said to him – ‘It’s your time now so let’s go’.”