Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
I RELISH THIS GREATER EXPECTATION
Northern Ireland boss is hoping to build on the many highlights his glorious reign has brought
MICHAEL O’NEILL believes heightened expectation and his players’ desire to make memories are two of the biggest achievements of his time as Northern Ireland boss.
O’neill, preparing for today’s UEFA Nations League opener against Bosnia and Herzegovina, is staring at the fourth competitive cycle of his six years in charge.
Hopes are high that Northern Ireland can make a positive impression on the new-look competition and forthcoming Euro 2020 qualifiers in March.
And O’neill, who recently signed an extended contract with the IFA, wouldn’t have it any other way.
“The benchmark is set higher but you want expectation,” he said. “It’s good to see the players turn up with a real purpose and a belief they can achieve something.
“The worst thing you can have in football is no expectation. It’s great to have that within the group. Expectation is a good thing.”
While reaching the knockout stages of Euro 2016 stands as a natural highlight, he is equally as proud of a change in focus around the national team.
As a midfielder in the late1980s and early-1990s, O’neill played in front of meagre crowds of 2,500 and 3,500 for home friendlies against Chile and Poland.
His high point in a green shirt in Belfast – scoring twice in a rain soaked 5-3 win over Austria in 1995 – was played in front of only 8,400 fans.
Compare and contrast that to his time as manager where 18,103 packed out Windsor for March’s 2-1 friendly win over South Korea and tickets are like gold dust. “I was never a sellout,” he joked yesterday. “The experience the IFA has put on for supporters is very positive but performances have also played a big part.
“It’s a great time for young players to come into the squad. In the early years it was difficult for them because we were struggling to get results.
“Now they come in and we’re on an upward curve. That’s a massive positive.” O’neill recently admitted he had to address an air of resignation around the team when first appointed in 2012 – although he jokingly laid that at the feet of the media yesterday.
“You guys were to blame for that, let’s be honest!” smiled the former Newcastle United midfielder who had to endure a “very difficult first two years” before fortunes changed.
“I didn’t come in with a magic wand and everything fell into place – that didn’t happen,” he said. “What we managed to do was get every ounce out of the players.
“The squad now has a nice age about it. We have experience in the right areas and good legs in the team. We also have players who have come in and made an impact.
“Hopefully we’ll see the emergence of three or four others through the Nations League.”
In a recent interview on the Open Goal Youtube channel, O’neill credited senior players like Steven Davis and Jonny Evans for helping bed in a different “mentality” within the squad.
He revealed: “I said to them, ‘Do you want to look back on your career and have 70 caps but not too many highlights?’. We have to create highlights and memories.”
Mission accomplished.
The quest to create more continues this afternoon.