REPUBLIC OF IRELAND boss Heimir Hallgrímsson insists he and his squad are united after the fallout from their infamous Nations League window in September and October.
The Icelander says he “needed to offload” and “get things off my chest” in his report to superiors in the FAI about how the double header with Israel was handled.
Hallgrímsson also feels that he has “located enemies” by realising “those who kick you when you are low.”
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Speaking at his squad announcement on Thursday for the final two League B games away to Austria on 14 November and Kosovo in Dublin three days later, Hallgrímsson said he is targeting two wins to try and ensure at least second spot.
He confirmed that Seamus Coleman will return to the camp in a “hybrid role” and would not rule out the possibility of the Donegal native playing a role in the games.
However, it was still very much a case of putting to bed any potential tensions that might be lingering from that last crucial window with those who were involved.
Goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu’s decision not to take part in the games with Israel prompted a manic day behind the scenes on the eve of their first meeting in Hungary.
Players subsequently held two rounds of voting to decide if they would fulfil the fixture with FAI CEO David Courell explaining at a hastily-arranged press conference that a “significant majority” were willing to proceed.
Bazunu is not part of this squad due to a quad injury and Hallgrímsson explained that he “talked to almost every player” who was part of the games with Israel to gauge the mood heading into this international window.
“I have good people around me, that told me what I needed to do, to offload, I did my report to the association and that was my way of getting things off my chest, this was this one and the other one is behind us, that was my way of doing it and just focusing on this one,” Hallgrímsson said.
“Sometimes, we as coaches, we artificially manufacture that the world is against us so we stick together. We got that for free for three weeks in the last camp. It certainly made us more united than ever. Talking to the players now, everyone is looking forward to coming into this camp.
“In these moments as well, you find your true friends, when you really need it. As a coach, you will find those that text you and call you. They don’t just call you when you win a game. And in the same way, those who kick you when you are low, then at least, you have located your enemies.”
Hallgrímsson confirmed that what happened in the last window will not be broached with the players when they arrive on Monday. There were some in the FAI who feared Finn Azaz (who is of Israeli descent) would call time on his Ireland career after the controversy.
“I’ve a really good relationship with Finn and I’ve given him a lot of praise and I think his value as a player and as a person has risen tremendously. Hopefully he can show that again on the pitch for this camp. That’s what matters to me,” Hallgrímsson said.
“I don’t want this camp to be an extension of the last camp. I have talked to almost every player who was in the camp the last time, just to see if they wanted to add something about what we did, if we can learn something. If I can learn something.
“It was positive. Everybody had the same answer. It is behind us now, we are looking forward so we are not going to bring in the last camp.
“It was a special circumstance. Normally, I don’t call players a lot. I try it now to go and watch them training between games more than I did before.
“Everybody probably processed what happened and left it. So I’m happy with that, that the players dealt with it their way if that answers your question. There was obviously players that haven’t taken a leadership role and stepped up this camp and I gave them a lot of credit for this, just to speak up for themselves etc, and the squad knows much more about each other and that’s really good going forward.”
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Ireland boss has spoken "to almost every player" and insists they are "united" after Israel
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND boss Heimir Hallgrímsson insists he and his squad are united after the fallout from their infamous Nations League window in September and October.
The Icelander says he “needed to offload” and “get things off my chest” in his report to superiors in the FAI about how the double header with Israel was handled.
Hallgrímsson also feels that he has “located enemies” by realising “those who kick you when you are low.”
Speaking at his squad announcement on Thursday for the final two League B games away to Austria on 14 November and Kosovo in Dublin three days later, Hallgrímsson said he is targeting two wins to try and ensure at least second spot.
He confirmed that Seamus Coleman will return to the camp in a “hybrid role” and would not rule out the possibility of the Donegal native playing a role in the games.
However, it was still very much a case of putting to bed any potential tensions that might be lingering from that last crucial window with those who were involved.
Goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu’s decision not to take part in the games with Israel prompted a manic day behind the scenes on the eve of their first meeting in Hungary.
Players subsequently held two rounds of voting to decide if they would fulfil the fixture with FAI CEO David Courell explaining at a hastily-arranged press conference that a “significant majority” were willing to proceed.
Bazunu is not part of this squad due to a quad injury and Hallgrímsson explained that he “talked to almost every player” who was part of the games with Israel to gauge the mood heading into this international window.
“I have good people around me, that told me what I needed to do, to offload, I did my report to the association and that was my way of getting things off my chest, this was this one and the other one is behind us, that was my way of doing it and just focusing on this one,” Hallgrímsson said.
“Sometimes, we as coaches, we artificially manufacture that the world is against us so we stick together. We got that for free for three weeks in the last camp. It certainly made us more united than ever. Talking to the players now, everyone is looking forward to coming into this camp.
“In these moments as well, you find your true friends, when you really need it. As a coach, you will find those that text you and call you. They don’t just call you when you win a game. And in the same way, those who kick you when you are low, then at least, you have located your enemies.”
Hallgrímsson confirmed that what happened in the last window will not be broached with the players when they arrive on Monday. There were some in the FAI who feared Finn Azaz (who is of Israeli descent) would call time on his Ireland career after the controversy.
“I’ve a really good relationship with Finn and I’ve given him a lot of praise and I think his value as a player and as a person has risen tremendously. Hopefully he can show that again on the pitch for this camp. That’s what matters to me,” Hallgrímsson said.
“I don’t want this camp to be an extension of the last camp. I have talked to almost every player who was in the camp the last time, just to see if they wanted to add something about what we did, if we can learn something. If I can learn something.
“It was positive. Everybody had the same answer. It is behind us now, we are looking forward so we are not going to bring in the last camp.
“It was a special circumstance. Normally, I don’t call players a lot. I try it now to go and watch them training between games more than I did before.
“Everybody probably processed what happened and left it. So I’m happy with that, that the players dealt with it their way if that answers your question. There was obviously players that haven’t taken a leadership role and stepped up this camp and I gave them a lot of credit for this, just to speak up for themselves etc, and the squad knows much more about each other and that’s really good going forward.”
FAI Nations League Republic Of Ireland Soccer