Warsaw woe as late goal sinks Linfield dream
Healy’s proud of his warriors after gutsy defeat in Poland
LINFIELD manager David Healy hailed a stunning performance from his troops after a heartbreaking slender Champions League loss to Legia Warsaw in Poland last night.
It took a sublime strike from substitute Jose Kante with only nine minutes remaining to break Linfield’s resistance and it arrived after the dismissal of Kirk Millar 15 minutes before the finish. The 1-0 first qualifying round defeat was not the hammering some may have feared as the Blues’ outstanding performance frustrated the Polish champions.
And the Blues’ European story is far from over as they go into the Europa League second qualifying round, with the draw on August 31 and matches played on September 17.
The Premiership champions were just inches away from a late equaliser when substitute Christy Manzinga’s shot cannoned off an upright.
Healy said: “I asked them, as a Blueman growing up, to make the club proud and they did that. We are gutted to lose but I’m immensely proud of them.”
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Healy added: “It’s early after the game and tinged with disappointment but I have spoken to the players and they have represented the club and myself in the right manner which they always do.
“I thought the level of concentration and organisation was immense.
“We stayed in the game and did create something. We got done by a great finish but it was a high quality of opposition. It was a difficult test and I am very proud to be Linfield manager.
“The Legia people have huge aspirations of going far in the Champions League so huge credit to the players. They took the information on board and acted on it. I have zero complaints about that.
“We have a little break now and can hopefully refresh and regroup. Hopefully we get a decent draw to whet the appetite.
“I expect and demand the players to do the club proud. Let’s not forget our own tradition and history. The fans want us to beat every team and we feel we can match the majority of sides, even those steeped in European history.
“We are beaten but not downbeat, that’s for sure. For us it’s only beneficial if we keep progressing and kick on. It’s great going to places like Celtic Park and Rosenborg as well as Qarabag and I’m very proud to leave here as a Linfield manager.
“They were relieved to go through and we leave here a little down but we certainly aren’t out.”
Linfield were granted a bye to the game after Kosovan opponents FC Drita had two positive Covid-19 cases before last week’s scheduled tie in Switzerland.
A Legia player also tested positive for Covid-19 on Monday but the game went ahead behind closed doors at the Polish Army Stadium.
• DECLAN Devine has agreed a one-year extension to his contract as Derry City manager.
STRIKER Serge Gnabry insists there will be no complacency from Bayern Munich as they face Lyon for a place in the Champions League final.
The German giants are now the overwhelming favourites to win the reformatted mini-tournament in Portugal after powering into the semi-finals by thrashing Barcelona 8-2 last week.
Their next opponents are the unfancied French side who finished seventh in Ligue 1 this year, but after Les Gones’ victories over Juventus and Manchester City, Gnabry is taking nothing for granted.
The former Arsenal player, who scored one of the eight against Barca, said: “If you look at the match against Barcelona then, yes, it was an exclamation mark — everyone heard.
“But this is a different match, it is a semi-final. They’ll be well prepared, it will be no walk in the park. We have to focus and be ready from the first minute.
“We know they’ve beaten Juventus, they’ve beaten Manchester City and both those teams were favourites. It looks like we’re favourites now and we have to be careful.