Europe a Welcome Distraction - Kenna
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St Patricks Athletic manager Jeff Kenna yesterday met reporters ahead of Thursday’s Europa League fixture against Maltese side Valetta FC. With the league already way out of reach, all eyes turn to Europe for some welcome relief it seems.
“The League is proving to be very frustrating so [this is] a distraction, one that we are very much looking forward to and hopefully it’s the start of a good adventure,” said Kenna.
“Teams build on the strength of your home form and ours has been indifferent. But its Europe, it throws up different scenarios. The players are really looking forward to it as much as I am so we’ll give it a go.”
“We’ll be going, certainly to score. We’ll be very positive right from the start. […] We’re going to take the game to them,” he added.
Kenna revealed that his side may have as few as 15 players available for the game with injuries and suspensions mounting; Jay Gavin is struggling, Glen Fitzgerald is touch and go and Damian Lynch suspended. Gary Dempsey, Mark Quigley, Darragh Ryan, and John Lester are also out.
Having been to see Valetta play, Kenna feels he has a strong understanding of how they will play against his side. “The centre forward is a big tall lad, decent touch, he links the play well. They have pace down the flanks in the wingers and full backs on both sides.”
But the danger man is ex-Manchester United player Jordi Cruyff according to Kenna and his scouting staff. “They try to go through midfield and occasionally if Cruyff’s got time, he does look for a big diagonal to either winger. Cruyff in midfield is the one who pulls the strings. If you give him time he’s more than capable of still doing that.
“We’ve got to get pressure on him. Get close to him. […] Make him go sideways or backwards,” he added.
When asked if he would welcome Real Madrid to the game, with them in town to face Shamrock Rovers in a glamour friendly, Kenna quipped “they’re more than welcome to come. I think it’s about €15 a ticket. I’m sure they can afford that; Ronaldo might even pay for the lot of them.”
“The League is proving to be very frustrating so [this is] a distraction, one that we are very much looking forward to and hopefully it’s the start of a good adventure,” said Kenna.
“Teams build on the strength of your home form and ours has been indifferent. But its Europe, it throws up different scenarios. The players are really looking forward to it as much as I am so we’ll give it a go.”
“We’ll be going, certainly to score. We’ll be very positive right from the start. […] We’re going to take the game to them,” he added.
Kenna revealed that his side may have as few as 15 players available for the game with injuries and suspensions mounting; Jay Gavin is struggling, Glen Fitzgerald is touch and go and Damian Lynch suspended. Gary Dempsey, Mark Quigley, Darragh Ryan, and John Lester are also out.
Having been to see Valetta play, Kenna feels he has a strong understanding of how they will play against his side. “The centre forward is a big tall lad, decent touch, he links the play well. They have pace down the flanks in the wingers and full backs on both sides.”
But the danger man is ex-Manchester United player Jordi Cruyff according to Kenna and his scouting staff. “They try to go through midfield and occasionally if Cruyff’s got time, he does look for a big diagonal to either winger. Cruyff in midfield is the one who pulls the strings. If you give him time he’s more than capable of still doing that.
“We’ve got to get pressure on him. Get close to him. […] Make him go sideways or backwards,” he added.
When asked if he would welcome Real Madrid to the game, with them in town to face Shamrock Rovers in a glamour friendly, Kenna quipped “they’re more than welcome to come. I think it’s about €15 a ticket. I’m sure they can afford that; Ronaldo might even pay for the lot of them.”
About Gordon Hunt
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