Mccarthy: Nerves are now gone
trepidation,” he said yesterday.
“It would have been the worst result in Irish football I’d have thought, that’s how it would have been perceived.
“So I think you can understand there were a little bit of nerves from us all. Going back to the Aviva, I’m looking forward to it.
“I had all those games at Lansdowne Road and it was particularly good for me – I had a successful time there as a player and a manager.
“But this place – the Aviva – is magnificent and hopefully we can make it a fortress.”
Mccarthy expects
Georgia to “bust a gut” in their attempts to derail Ireland’s qualification hopes.
Georgia are smarting after losing 2-0 at home to group favourites
Switzerland on Saturday.
But they fancy an upset against Mccarthy’s Ireland having run Martin O’neill’s team close in the World Cup qualifying campaign.
Georgia bossed the Boys in Green in Tbilisi, coming from 1-0 down to draw 1-1 in a game they could have won.
And midfielder Harry Arter claimed yesterday that it had felt like ‘playing Manchester City – and that’s not right’.
Mccarthy caught some of Georgia’s defeat to Switzerland before Ireland faced Gibraltar on Saturday.
He continued: “Switzerland are one of the best teams in Europe – they have been over the last couple of years with the results they’ve had.
“So it was no surprise that they’ve gone (to Georgia) and won. Georgia will be busting a gut wanting to come and play us and try and get something off us.
“Switzerland pressed them well and they didn’t have as much possession and couldn’t get up the pitch. But I’ve seen other games where they have played.”