We have to nullify what they do, insists Stephen Bradley ahead of Iceland test
Johnny Kenny of Shamrock Rovers celebrates with team-mates Gary O'Neill, centre, and Jack Byrne after scoring against Dundalk in Tallaght Stadium last Thursday. Photo: Thomas Flinkow/Sportsfile
Stephen Bradley has told his Shamrock Rovers players to focus on their own identity and ignore any outside issues when they do battle in Iceland in the Champions League for the second time in 12 months with hopes of making amends for a loss last year.
While Shelbourne manager Damien Duff has complained that accessing up-to-date information on their European opponents from Gibraltar is difficult, Bradley is experienced on the European stage and also alert to the threats from Icelandic sides, as this is the third time in his nine European campaigns that the Hoops faced a team from Iceland.
Vikingur could potentially field an XI of senior internationals, mostly from Iceland with imports from the Faroe Islands and El Salvador so it’s a test but one Bradley’s prepared for.
“We have been to Iceland a number of times now down the years so you get to build up contacts with other managers, other clubs, scouts and when you are drawn in Iceland you pull on those contacts and get as much information as you can. You obviously do your own homework and watch them so the players are well aware of what we are facing,” he said, as Sparta Prague wait in the wings to play the winners of this tie in the second qualifying round.
Fewer than 50 Rovers fans have travelled to a Reykjavik that’s tough on the wallet as they hope for a trip to Prague in the next round, so a small crowd –and muted atmosphere – is expected.
“It’s about what you are facing on the pitch, you don’t play the crowd, if we are playing in front of 10 people or ten thousand, what they do they are very good at it and that doesn’t change. We have to try and nullify what they do and then bring your identity to the game, that’s really important, that we bring what we do as much as possible. Our aim is to go through over two legs and that starts on Tuesday night,” Bradley added.
“It’s always good to be able to take any game back to Tallaght but we know we have to do our work here first; if we do that, we know going back to Tallaght, we’ll get a good crowd and it’s not a nice place for opposition when it’s like that.”
He has squad issues as Aaron McEneff, Lee Grace, Graham Burke and Rory Gaffney miss out.
Víkingur v Shamrock Rovers,
Live, LOITV, 7.45
