Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
JAMES BACKING FOR IRELAND BOSS SLAP AND FICKLE
Mcclean: We deserved abuse for 5-1 home defeat to Denmark yet after Wales win we were heroes
JAMES MCCLEAN insists the Republic of Ireland are in the best possible hands with Martin O’neill at the helm for another two years.
And he claims the stinging criticism of the manager and team after that Denmark defeat just shows up the fickle nature of the game. “After the Wales game, Martin was amazing, we were all amazing. A couple of weeks later after the Denmark game, it’s the complete opposite,” he said yesterday.
“Martin has been in the game long enough, I’ve been in the game long enough myself now to realise it’s very fickle. You’re a hero one week and you’re the villain the next week. It’s water off a duck’s back.
“If I was to do it all again, I’d have scored at 1-0 when I had the chance but put it wide. They’re the little things you look back on.
“It would have been 2-0, maybe game over. That goes through your mind a lot. But the night happened the way it happened. It hurt and it’s hurt for a long time.” O’neill was stung by the criticism that followed the 5-1 loss – so much so he considered his position as manager.
But Mcclean feels most of the barbs were over the top.
The West Brom winger said: “We got beaten 5-1 at home to Denmark and we’re going to be criticised. Rightly so.
“But the way Martin was getting hammered about his job considering what he’d achieved. That was crazy. He’s done an unbelievable job.
“I remember being in tears coming off the pitch, as were a few of the other lads. Having come so close, to have it in your hands and for it unravel the way it did….
“We were sitting in the dressingroom and there was silence, we couldn’t believe what actually happened.
“Everyone was hurt deep and it still hurts deep now. But we’re lucky enough that we’re in a position that we can right the wrong of that night.”
Mcclean is adamant Ireland can come roaring back under O’neill and Roy Keane’s stewardship.
He said: “We were one game from getting to a World Cup so I think they’ve done an unbelievable job and I’m looking forward to seeing what the future holds.
“Mentally, we’ve a strong set of lads who will be ready for the game and the challenges ahead.
“And the only way to put it right going forward is getting results and qualifying for tournaments.”