Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
NEW DEAL WAS NOT IN DOUBT SAYS MANAGER
IRELAND secured third spot after a performance that left FAI chief executive Jonathan Hill purring about the future.
But there was bad blood between Stephen Kenny and opposite number Luc Holtz afterwards after a war of words exploded over Holz’s ‘British style’ jibes. Shane Duffy, Chiedozie Ogbene and Callum Robinson scored in the secondhalf to floor Luxembourg and Hill tweeted: ‘Enjoying this’. The FAI board will meet later this month to settle on Kenny’s future and the manager is confident of landing a new deal for Euro 2024. In Luxembourg last night, Kenny said: “I was always confident regardless. The supporters were magnificent and I know they were singing my name.
“But I’d be happier if they were singing the players’ names as the game is ultimately about players. “What will happen, will happen. I’m just trying to do the best job that I can and it’s not something that I’m looking to sit down on in the morning, you know?.”
The post-match press conferences were interrupted by dozens of Ireland fans (inset) hammering on the windows chanting ‘There’s only one Stephen Kenny’.”
Kenny continued: “I’m not celebrating finishing third by any means but I think people understand there has been a radical overhaul of the squad. “And that was absolutely necessary for us to go forward and be brilliant.
“The spine of the team is still there and we’re putting ourselves in place to have a strong Nations League campaign.
“And then, leading onto that, a really strong campaign to qualify for Euro 2024 and that is the way we have always viewed it.
“But it’s not just about me as I’ve got a terrific staff and Keith Andrews has been brilliant through the tough period
“It’s very much a team effort.”
Ireland kept a clean sheet for the fourth game running and racked up a second 3-0 scoreline on the road.
Kenny continued: “I’m just delighted to win the game and 3-0 is a great victory. We didn’t start well but we created a lot of opportunities in the game.”