Conference League Preview: Zurich -v- Shelbourne

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Shelbourne face a stiff European test on Thursday evening in Switzerland when they face FC Zurich in the first-leg of their Conference League tie (kick-off is at 6pm Irish Time).

The Reds progressed to the second qualifying round of the Conference League by virtue of a 3-2 aggregate win over St Joseph’s of Gibraltar in the first round.

The game will also be available to view on Solidsport at a cost of €10.

ZURICH 

In Europe for the first time in two years, Zurich host Premier Division Shelbourne with a point to prove. 

The Swiss giants came fourth in the Swiss Pro League last season and are 13-time league winners. They have also won the Swiss Cup 10 times before. 

Currently, they are managed by Dutchman Ricardo Moniz, with the 60-year-old previously in charge of English outfit Notts County and European powerhouses Ferencvaros, Red Bull Salzburg and Hamburg. 

And the experienced boss, who was a first-team coach at Tottenham Hotspur from 2005-2008 with Ireland international Robbie Keane his player, is expecting a tough clash against Shels.

“I know everything about them and I have a lot of respect for them,” Moniz said during his pre-match press conference yesterday.

“I also worked in England for a long time and I remain a speaker. In England, Northern Ireland, Ireland and Scotland, there is a special tradition for respect.”



Ireland underage international Armstrong Okoflex, who worked under Damien Duff at Celtic, is on their books and may feature. 

Zurich come into the game having played one league fixture this season, defeating Yverdon 2-0. Okoflex was an unused substitute in that game.

SHELBOURNE

Reds boss Duff has called on his side to ‘embrace’ the occasion when they take to the field at the 26,000 capacity Letzigrund in Zurich on Thursday evening.

Shels will also be backed by up to 400 passionate supporters in Switzerland - with the home tie for next week’s second-leg at Tolka Park already sold out.

“The lads know what task is in front of them,” Duff stressed. “There's a lot of top-quality players, they're a Swiss institution and they've won the league many times. 



“They're a massive club but it's not a time to be scared. It's a time to absolutely embrace the occasion and game.

“I hope I'm speaking on behalf of the players because if you tiptoe into action tomorrow night, you'll be in for a long night.

“They have an awful lot of attacking ability. We've watched all their recent games, they obviously started the season the other day, so you'd like to think maybe we're up and running an awful lot longer than them.

“They have an awful lot of attacking quality. If you're in any way disconnected as a team, or press individually and think you're alright, you actually won't be alright. It’s a brilliant test and I just can't wait for it.”

Shels will be without striker Dean Williams for the game, with Sean Gannon suspended. Keith Ward left the club earlier this week by mutual consent.

Referee: Visar Kastrati (Kosovo). 

 

PREDICTION 

Zurich 2-0 Shelbourne

 

Zurich 

Injured: N/A. 

Doubtful: N/A. 

Suspended: None. 

 

Shelbourne 

Injured: Dean Williams. 

Doubtful: None. 

Suspended: Sean Gannon.

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