‘Christmas is around the corner’: O’Neill looks on bright side of things
MICHAEL O’NEILL would love a win against Denmark tonight to finish off what has been a miserable Euro 2024 qualifying campaign but the manager is looking beyond results as he tries to mould his young side.
Friday’s 4-0 loss to Finland in Helsinki was the worst result of an already punishing 2023 for Northern Ireland, in which wins over minnows San Marino have been the only escape from seven defeats in nine.
Peppered with questions about all the things that had gone wrong since March, how he can pick up his players, and whether he was keen to draw a line under this campaign, O’Neill sought to lighten the mood in what was often a dour press conference yesterday.
“I’m not traumatised or anything, I’ll be alright!” O’Neill said.
“You make it sound like I’ve been in a car crash or something. It’s not like that.
“As a manager you’re consistently moving to the next game. I can look beyond the results. I don’t think drawing a line under it would help us in any way as part of our development as a team. I’m comfortable with it.
“You seem a lot more down about it than me. It’ll be alright, lads. Christmas is around the corner.”
Having come into the campaign with some optimism, a raft of injuries have left O’Neill with a squad in which only three players have more than 50 caps, while 14 are in single figures or yet to feature.
“I think you learn about the level more than anything else,” O’Neill said of the lessons being given.
“It’s nothing dramatic. The international game will have a more tactical approach but if you’re a young player on loan at a League One club in England, the game is a lot different to having to come away and play in Copenhagen against Denmark or Helsinki against Finland.
“It’s hugely different. The biggest thing is also the concentration levels, for younger players coming in, particularly attacking players, they are natural footballers and want to play but you have to tell them they aren’t going to get as many opportunities [on the ball].”