ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC captain, Ger O’Brien has urged his team-mates to believe in their own ability ahead of tonight’s crucial Champions League qualifier with Legia Warsaw.
Having taken a 1-0 lead in Poland last week, the full-back is adamant the Saints have enough quality in their ranks, despite the possibility of the Polish champions dominating the possession stakes.
“They are good, and we know they will probably have a lot of the ball, but we need to realise how good we are as players,” he said.
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“Liam has signed us with a view to do well domestically and also in this competition, and I think we probably created the better chances (last week).
“A stat popped up on the screen when I was re-watching the game that said we had seven shots on target to their one, but nobody would have given us a chance to have that type of dominance on the night.
“They can have all the possession they like, but once we are on the right end of the scoreline that’s all that matters.”
And despite having to play the game away from Inchicore and Richmond Park, O’Brien said the team won’t use any excuse, and simply need to apply the directions given by manager, Liam Buckley.
He said: “We won’t use the pitch and we won’t use the venue as an excuse. We’ve manoeuvred ourselves into a very good position and we just have to make sure that we’re not a hard luck story, and that we go out and perform with the game plan that Liam gives us.”
Confidence is sure to be high within the Saints’ ranks having scored a brilliantly-worked goal last week, and also testing the Warsaw defence on several occasions in the first leg.
That being said, Liam Buckley and co know that with several full internationals in their ranks, the current Polish Champions provide stern opposition, and have the ability to unlock the Pats’ defence.
Captain Ger O'Brien confident Saints have right plan to complete Legia job
ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC captain, Ger O’Brien has urged his team-mates to believe in their own ability ahead of tonight’s crucial Champions League qualifier with Legia Warsaw.
Having taken a 1-0 lead in Poland last week, the full-back is adamant the Saints have enough quality in their ranks, despite the possibility of the Polish champions dominating the possession stakes.
“They are good, and we know they will probably have a lot of the ball, but we need to realise how good we are as players,” he said.
“Liam has signed us with a view to do well domestically and also in this competition, and I think we probably created the better chances (last week).
“A stat popped up on the screen when I was re-watching the game that said we had seven shots on target to their one, but nobody would have given us a chance to have that type of dominance on the night.
“They can have all the possession they like, but once we are on the right end of the scoreline that’s all that matters.”
And despite having to play the game away from Inchicore and Richmond Park, O’Brien said the team won’t use any excuse, and simply need to apply the directions given by manager, Liam Buckley.
He said: “We won’t use the pitch and we won’t use the venue as an excuse. We’ve manoeuvred ourselves into a very good position and we just have to make sure that we’re not a hard luck story, and that we go out and perform with the game plan that Liam gives us.”
Confidence is sure to be high within the Saints’ ranks having scored a brilliantly-worked goal last week, and also testing the Warsaw defence on several occasions in the first leg.
That being said, Liam Buckley and co know that with several full internationals in their ranks, the current Polish Champions provide stern opposition, and have the ability to unlock the Pats’ defence.
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