McGeady ready to fight for place

As the legions of Irish fans finalise their plans for Poland, so do the international team at their base in North County Dublin. Earlier this week, Extratime.ie  were in Malahide to check in with Spartak Moscow’s Aiden McGeady and see what the atmosphere was like in the Irish camp.

“There’s a sort of a different atmosphere about now. It’s not just we’re coming out for a week now, it’s the start of a long period together.”

“Everyone’s obviously pretty excited, you can tell there’s a different atmosphere, a different buzz around training and that as well.”

It has been a long season for McGeady. The transitional season began on the 14^th March 2011 and only finished on the 13^th May 2012, as Russian football makes the switch away from summer football. It has been a season of ups and downs for the former Celtic winger too.

“Basically I was out of the team for about three or four games – at the start of March really.”

“Then I got back in the team and there’s no issues between me and the management, and I ended up probably playing some of the best stuff I’ve played at Spartak since I’ve been there and ended up helping the team finish in second place.”

“We had the likes of teams that were in front of us like CSKA, Dynamo Moscow [sic] but we got the second Champions League place so everyone’s delighted at the end of the season.”

For his role in helping Spartak achieve Champions League Football, McGeady was last week selected as one of the top 33 players in the Russian league. This was something that perhaps he wasn’t expecting.

“Ya I probably didn’t think I would have been, but obviously when I got back into the team for the last seven or eight games of the season like I said I was playing some good stuff, the team was playing well, and that’s probably how I was voted into that.”

It has been almost two years since Glasgow born McGeady made the £11 million switch from Celtic to Spartak for what was a record transfer out of Scotland. McGeady insists he is happy and settled in Moscow, but did indicate he may look to move to England when his contract expires in three years.  

“Well ya, I mean I’m obviously settled there. I had a few issues a couple of months back, but we’ve had a great end to the season. So I’m happy there just now.

“I’ve still got three years left on my contract. Of course everyone has ambitions still to play in England or wherever you know, so I wouldn’t want to stay past my contract.”

Even before his switch to Moscow, McGeady has been one name that seems to constantly crop up in transfer window silly season. The Spartak number eight is not one to get carried away with speculation however.

“There’s nothing there to deal with, it’s just speculation that’s all. Until Spartak say to me I’m up for sale, and a team comes in and makes a concrete bid there’s nothing really to think about.”

“Of course when you’re linked with teams, it can be flattering, give you a little boost and things like that. And obviously everyone gets excited or whatever when they see their name linked with different teams, but that’s all it is. Just speculation, every footballer is the same I suppose.”

However McGeady was also quick to reaffirm his happiness for now with life in Russia when asked did he think he would get his chance to play in England.

“I’m not too sure. I mean eventually ya if I stay at Spartak for the next three years and my contract runs out I think so.”

“But I’m not really thinking about at the minute. I’m not thinking of leaving or thinking of upping sticks and getting myself to England or wherever. I’m quite happy where I am and that’s all there is to it.”

Back to the task at hand, and the European Championships next month, the Irish wide man was under no illusions.

“We’re in a very very tough group. Up against Spain who are probably favourites to go and win the whole thing. Obviously Italy as well you know are a very good team with some top players, and Croatia are very similar.”

“But we’ve played against these teams before. Spain – we haven’t faced them, but Croatia and Italy – we’ve gave Italy quite a few good games over the past three or four years.”

“It’s obviously down to ourselves I think. We’re a difficult team to play against, and I don’t think teams that we’ve got are going to be looking to us and saying “that’s an easy three points there”. And likewise we won’t be doing the same to them.”

As the players train this week in Malahide in preparation for Saturday’s friendly, there is a real sense of belief in the Irish camp that they can get out of Group C.

“Ya I mean obviously we have to have the belief. We don’t want to be going there just to make up the numbers. It’s absolutely a colossal task I think to qualify, but it’s not without our means I don’t think.”

“We definitely have the squad and players that could come second. I’m not saying we’re going to finish first and wipe the floor with every team, but anything can happen in football, and we’re going there and going to give ourselves every chance to go and qualify.”

Finally, with the emergence of James McClean onto the international scene, and his eventual inclusion in Trapattoni’s 23 man squad, McGeady urged the attending press not to put too much pressure on the Derryman and indicated that he wasn’t about to let McClean walk into the team at his expense.

“…it’s another player whose been playing really well in the Premier League coming into the squad and wanting to fight for a starting place.  Competition is always going to be healthy in any team, at club or international level. That’s all I can really say.”

“Obviously he has been doing really well, and there has been a lot of hype, but to be fair it was the same with Seamus Coleman last year as well. I’m not comparing the two players because obviously the two of them are very good players. But these things happen on football. I would say just, I wouldn’t put too much pressure on him. That’s all I’d say, because they are still young.”

“Myself and Duffer didn’t play most of the games to say go “Ah, no problem. Right, you just take my place on the wing” right before the Euros.”

“That’s football for you. You’re always going to have competition as I said. Players are going to be coming up and playing me out at club level getting first into the limelight I suppose.”

“But it’s my job to maintain a performance so I can be playing every game and it’s his job to try and catch the manager’s eye and fight myself or fight Duffer for a place. That’s the way football is.”

As the countdown to Euro 2012 continues, stay tuned to Extratime.ie for more on Ireland’s build-up including coverage of this Saturday’s game against Bosnia in the Aviva Stadium.