SNUB OF THE GREENE
Criticism and abuse music to Aaron’s ears: ‘Keep it coming..i love when people say we’re weak’
AARON GREENE has told the haters to keep on hating as it is helping – not hindering – Shamrock Rovers’ title charge.
The defending champions surged 12-points clear at the top after Friday’s effortless 2-0 win over Sligo Rovers.
And now they need a maximum of seven points from their final six games to reclaim the title with arch enemies Bohemians next up in Tallaght tonight.
Not that they need it in this fixture, but Rovers have all the motivation they need after Bohs dumped them out of the FAI Cup in August.
It was the Hoops second time losing to the Gypsies at Dalymount Park this season but Greene insists Rovers – who beat them in Tallaght – are focused on victory.
And he says the swipes and jibes from outsiders about winning a Covidenforced 18-game league season in 2020 has helped fuel their trophy ambitions this year.
Striker Greene (below) said: “I love it. Keep letting me hear about it. I love when people speak about us and doubt us. Getting beaten in Europe, writing us off, blah, blah….
“You’re hearing comments from everyone saying we’re beatable, the 18-game season, people criticise us. We love it. Keep talking about us.
“I love it when people speak about us and call us vulnerable, beatable. That’s cool. We’re so far ahead of these teams points-wise, but they keep talking about us.
“People still criticise us after winning
an 18-game season. You hear what people say but it doesn’t have in brackets ‘Covid title’.
“You still get a winners medal and I still handed it to my Da after the season.
“We had it numerous times since I’ve been here, people always want to doubt us – but keep doubting us because we’ll just keep showing up.”
Greene said: “We have seven points to get and while people like to speak about us, we just look after ourselves.
“We’re not in papers talking about other teams. We look after ourselves and that’s drilled into us by the staff and management.
“We’ll just look forward to tonight and be as professional as we always are.
“The manager drills it into us day in, day out and this group will never change for that and if it does, you won’t be in this dressing room.”
But with Bohs firmly in the hunt for Europe, Greene knows their fierce
rivals are in no mood to roll over in Tallaght.
The Gypsies will leapfrog
Derry into fourth with a win and close within a point of thirdplaced Sligo.
“They’re the best games in the country, ask both sets of players” said
Greene, who also played for Bohs.
“They’re unbelievable.
“The atmosphere, even going over there when there were no fans. I love going into it and it’s like going into the lion’s den.
“There probably won’t be a ticket in the place and it’ll be rocking. We got a bit of stick when we went there (Dalymount, in the FAI Cup) but that’s part and parcel of football.
“I’m not going to cry about it. They beat us on the day and hopefully we can show up tonight and get three points and then it’s another four points to retain the title.”