Roberto Lopes: 'I feel like I have improved - that's one of the reasons why I came to Shamrock Rovers'

Roberto Lopes (left) in action for Shamrock Rovers

Roberto Lopes (left) in action for Shamrock Rovers Credit: Eddie Lennon (ETPhotos)

“Pico came here as a part-time player and is now an international player. For me he has been the best defender in the country for three years and it is a credit to him and how he lives his life…”

Stephen Bradley may have labelled him as the best central defender in the League of Ireland over the last three years – but Roberto Lopes’ will to improve is unwavering.

Lopes joined the full-time Hoops from part-time Bohemians in November 2016 and has not looked back since.

Now 31, Lopes is an established international player for Cape Verde and has also won three league titles and an FAI Cup.

And while he does not know if he deserves the tag given to him by Bradley – he does at least admit he has improved a lot since joining the Hoops almost six years ago.

“It’s a high compliment,” he admitted. “I don’t know about that. I just try and do my part for the team. 

“I feel I’ve improved and it was one of the reasons I came here, to develop as a footballer, learn the game more and see if I could take it to the next level.

“The goal is to keep improving, especially on the international stage and European stage.

“We’re going for another league. Until I walk off the pitch dead and buried I’ll try and improve every day.”



On Friday night, the defender scored his second league goal of the season against Dundalk to ensure a valuable 1-0 victory and stay four points clear at the top of the table.

It was a significant win to put it mildly.

“Every game now is massive,” Lopes added. “Three points is the focus from every game and to come away with it, no matter how we do it.

“That's the main goal to get the result and put it to bed and move onto the next one.

“I don't think there is any game more important than the next one in the run, over eight games. it's a big three points and we move onto the next one.

“We know what it takes to get over the line and we know that we need everyone in that squad to step up for every game.



“It's something we can call on, but it means nothing if we don't put it into play.

“We're delighted tonight but we have another big game next week that we have to prepare for and be ready to go again.”

However, the 2023 League of Ireland Premier Division has provided the Hoops with a number of challenges in regards to the title race – with St Patrick’s Athletic and Derry City breathing down their neck by closing the gap in recent weeks.

In the past, the Hoops have rarely had a genuine challenger to battle with them for a league crown – but this term is different.

But has that changed anything for Rovers?

“I don't think it changes for us,” Lopes said. “The mentality for us in the business end was always doing our job properly and that's getting wins over the line no matter how we do it.

“The gap doesn't really mean anything to me as we have always approached it as getting over the line in the next game and just keep pushing it.

“That's what we will call on going forward.

“You can't control what other teams do, you can't control most things in football, only what you do. We do that in this group.

“We can only control what we do and how we show up for games. It's about winning ugly sometimes and trusting yourself even when you're under pressure and playing your stuff.”

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