I bore no malice in the clash that saw me hit with bigban:McNair
PADDY McNair has pleaded his innocence after his controversial red card at Swansea.
The Northern Ireland midfielder will miss the crucial Christmas fixtures against Michael O’Neill’s Stoke City, Huddersfield Town and West Brom after Boro’s appeal against his sending off at the Liberty Stadium was rejected by the FA.
McNair was dismissed following a collision with Matt Grimes and he revealed that he made a point of speaking to the City skipper after the game.
He said: “At the time I know I’m a little bit late on the tackle and I’ve gone in with my foot, and (with) my momentum my elbow has sort of caught him.
“I went and spoke to the lad after the game — I know him well — because when I saw the replay I thought it looked worse than I thought it was on the pitch.
“I think you can tell by my reaction when he sent me off that I couldn’t believe it at the time.
“I went to see him after the game and said, ‘Look, I know how it might look but it’s definitely not what I meant to do’.”
The referee’s post-match report confirmed that McNair was dismissed for kicking out at Grimes but the 24-year-old says he didn’t make contact with the City player.
“I got sent off for a stamp but I’ve watched it back and I’ve not really touched him with my feet,” he added.
Now Boro have to try and pick up maximum home points against fellow strugglers Stoke tonight and Huddersfield before travelling to leaders West Brom without McNair, who’s arguably been the club’s best outfield players so far this season.
He said: “They are all big games, they are all Premier League teams in the Championship like ourselves.
“We’re not where we want to be, we haven’t picked up as many wins as we would have liked this season, we’ve drawn too many games, there are teams around the play-offs who have lost as many games as we have, so I think if we can turn those draws into wins we’ll be fine.”
Q You were born in Angola, did you move to Holland at a very young age?
A
I moved when I was seven years old. I was the youngest with three older sisters — Leda, Greta and Liria — and I just wanted to go to school and play football.
I was a typical kid but I moved to Holland with my sisters. My parents are not with us any more so we decided to move.
Q What made you decide to move to Holland?
A
We moved there for a better life and to enjoy a brighter future. Holland is a nice country but it’s easier when you know people.
Q What happened to your parents?
A
They died in a civil conflict in Angola. It was a bad time but today there is more peace in the country. There was a lot of conflict around that time and my parents died.
I don’t know what happened but I know they died in the conflict. That’s the reason why we moved.
Holland was difficult because it’s a new country and I didn’t speak the language.
There’s a settling in process you have to go through.
I moved around in Holland a bit as well.
Q Was it difficult to settle in Holland?
A
Really difficult. I had left my friends who I played football with. You don’t know anyone and have to make new friends.
It was not easy for me but we started to go to school and I began to play football. It was special to be part of a team.
Q Did your sisters bring you up after the loss of your parents?
A
It was a weird time because I was so young and there was no time to really understand what happened in Angola. We lost our parents and then had to learn a new way of life.
One sister, Leda, is now back in Angola, married with three children; Greta lives in Portugal, also married; and the other sister, Liria, is married and lives in Holland.
So we are and close to one We all married very another. have very similar to the Netherlands.
We are together so that keeps us strong. My wife was born in Holland and her parents are from Cape Verde.
Q Has football given you comfort in your life?
A
I love playing football, and it’s a big passion of mine, but grown what really keeps me strong is up together my faith in God. That has helped me in my life. and My sisters, my mum and I my went to a church in Angola and, sisters when we moved to Holland, we went to the same church. really I can say that because of my became faith I have overcome all the difficult my mum challenges in my life. It has and dad, given me strength. helping to protect and guide me.
I’ve been married for two years and my wife Eliana joined me in
Belfast. I live quite close to the city centre.
It hasn’t been that hard a move as
Northern Ireland is
Q Have you been back to Angola?
A
My sisters had to go back. I was playing football in Holland, but I did go back once and have family there so I probably will return, maybe next summer, and I’ll give the kids a Glentoran shirt!
One of my team-mates Luke, who was my best friend, has now become my brother because his family in Holland adopted me. That’s how I got the Dutch name Van Overbeek.
They knew my sister had to go back to Angola and they asked me to join them. In Holland, I joined PSV Eindhoven but was unable to play for the first team. I was close a few times but picked up a few injuries at the wrong time.
That was bad luck, but I enjoyed my football and learned a lot. PSV gave me a chance to improve and play so I was not disappointed. I wasn’t angry, just unlucky because when I can’t play someone else takes their chance.
Q What top players did you play with?
A
Memphis Depay and Georginio Wijnaldum were at the club, and I played with Memphis in the youth team while Wijnaldum wanted to play with the second team to gain fitness. Memphis is the best player I have played with.
Q Why did you decide to come to Glentoran?
A
I didn’t know anything about the game here. In Holland I played well for different clubs but they changed managers and then the players change as well.
I was at Telstar but it was difficult to get into the team, so I wanted to play games and develop as a player.
I was searching for a new club and when you’re 25 it’s important to play and become a better player. Clubs in the Far East were interested in me but I didn’t want to move somewhere just to earn good money. I wanted to stay in Europe and I had a trial at Derry City.
They were on a winter break and I lacked fitness around that time. I then got a trial with the Glens and started to play games but it’s difficult when you don’t know the players.
They asked me to stay and I improved as my team-mates and I understood each other better. I went back to Holland to discuss it with my wife and the most important reason to come here is the same church I go to is here in Northern Ireland and is called The Universal Church of the Kingdom of God.
We also have to pick up the