Buckley excited as Pats prepare for new European push

A happy St Patrick’s Athletic manager Liam Buckley is pleased with his side’s draw for the Europa League’s First Qualifying Round which has paired them with Lithuanian outfit VMFD Zalgiris.

He insisted that Saints are excited about the prospect of competing in Europe once more although acknowledged that they are set to face another difficult task against a side who finished second in their league and won their domestic cup last campaign but who are also mid-season and in fine form.

“First and foremost we are delighted to be in this competition for starters because it is a big tournament and we are happy to be involved,” he told Extratime.ie. “They are going to be difficult opposition we are under no illusions about that.

“They are top of their league and have won 13 of their first 15 league games and as well as that they have a few internationals in their squad and have made some signings and improved their squad since last year so it is going to be a difficult game.

“We have done well to get where we are at the moment. The teams that we came up against last year were very tight and it will be the same year no doubt and even though we were seeded in the draw, there is not too much between the sides.”

As a result though he also believes it is going to be an excellent game given the purple patch his own club are in at the moment, also sitting top of their domestic league and playing some fine football.

Buckley also hopes that his side can take heart from their outstanding displays in this competition last year in which they reached the Third Qualifying Round and expects a similar standard of opposition to that which they faced on that particular European adventure.

“Although they are top of their league, we are in more or less the same situation as them because we are also mid-season and are currently top of our league and doing well so in a sense it is a top of the table clash between us and we know it is going to be a tricky one,” the former Republic of Ireland international continued.

“There are certainly no easy games in the Europa League or any European competition given the standard of the teams who qualify and I’m sure it will be no different than last year where we beat IBV and Siroki Brijeg both in extra time in tough games before eventually losing to Hannover and I think it will be similar to those games but it certainly is an exciting time for everyone at the club from the players and staff to the fans because everyone loves these European occasions.

“But playing last year as well is something that we really enjoyed and I know the supporters did to and that is what we want to do again and go out there and represent Irish football positively once more.”

A trip to Lithuania does represent a somewhat difficult one for fans especially and the man in charge at Richmond Park did admit that while coming up against a geographically easier team would have been welcomed, this is something that comes with competing in such tournaments.

He said of the journey: “Obviously it would have been nice to maybe get a team closer to home like Glentoran or Airbus UK who were in the hat with us just from a travel perspective and it would have been an easier game for us and the supporters but it is what it is and that’s what you are going to get in European competition.”

Pat’s will also have a welcome two week reprieve between their clash with Bray this week and a game against Sligo in mid-July which gives them time to rest and prepare for Zalgiris and Buckley is thankful to UCD for accommodating the league leaders’ European tie but moving a game they were due to play during this time.

“We are very grateful to UCD for changing the fixture which we managed to get sorted two weeks ago so that does give us a bit of breathing space for the Europa League game,” said the ex-Shamrock Rovers boss.

“If we can get through then we have a game against Sligo which is due to take place around the time of the next round and while they play in the Champions League so we will see then what maybe happens with that fixture.”

Buckley also stressed the importance of League of Ireland teams doing their best to assist each other during times where clubs are readying themselves to do the nation justice in continental competition and believes this is the proper attitude to have towards fellow league clubs.

“I think that it is very important though that we are represented well in Europe and I think that we do have to help each other out with regards to fixtures and things like that when possible,” he said.

“We all want to do as best we can for the league and to see each other do well because we are all in it together and it is good that teams help each other because we do want to represent this league in the best possible way.”