HE’S NO G A RY B A R LOW
Rogers insists on the highest of standards as double winners reset their goals and plot another assault on Europe
DUNDALK are ‘obsessed’ with making serious inroads into Europe next year having re-stamped their authority on the home front.
That was FAI Cup final hero Patrick Mceleney’s assessment in the immediate aftermath of Sunday’s dramatic decider at Aviva Stadium.
And it is one shared by goalkeeper Gary Rogers, who believes the club is primed for another adventure as they will be seeded in their opening Champions League round next summer.
In 2016, Dundalk reached the playoff round in Europe’s elite competition but came up just short against Polish giants Legia Warsaw. But having dropped into the Europa League, Stephen Kenny’s men gave everything in the group stages against Zenit St Petersburg, AZ Alkmaar and Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Rogers says a repeat of that run is the ultimate goal for the double champions in 2019 – and preferably as the first Irish club in the Champions League proper.
“You have to be thinking that way, to be wanting to win trophies and do well in Europe,” said the Meath man.
“The European success two years ago is something we want to replicate next year. You have to set yourself these aims, for real big days in Europe.
“It’s the one major thing this league can give you that England can’t, apart from a few players.
“There are not a lot of Irish players playing in Europe and we’ve the opportunity nearly every year to test ourselves against the best there is.
“We’ve done well in that department, apart from a bad half this year (against AEK Larnaca).”
Rogers believes the club’s new American owners will back Dundalk’s pursuit of European success. Some of those investors were on hand at the Aviva to share in the dressing room celebrations.
Rogers said: “It’s great to see them, they’re not anonymous. They’ve a presence and have been over regularly at games and training sessions.
“Winning the double is great for them as this is what they invested for.”
In the build-up to the final, defender Sean Gannon revealed how the owners had asked the players if there was anything more they could do for them.
But Rogers could only laugh when a tongue-in-cheek suggestion was made that the squad might be brought on a celebratory winter break to Las Vegas.
“I don’t know if my missus would let me go to Vegas, I’d be doing well to get away on holiday for a week!
“But they’ve been fantastic. Whatever has been asked by Stephen has been delivered.”