JOHN RUSSELL: ‘It’s a special occasion!’ | Shelbourne take on Ajax in the Johan Cruyff Arena
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Why is playing at the Johan Cruyff Arena a special occasion for Shelbourne?
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John we're in the Amsterdam Arena like these are probably what you dream of when you're going to as a player you're going to as a manager to be involved in toys like this yeah amazing occasion really looking forward to the game tomorrow cello crowd yeah real history here Johan Cruyff Arena for me as a kid growing up watching the Champions League in the 90s that Ajax team from 95 I was 10 years of age and in my room in Galway watching that on the telly and seeing Clive come off the bench and get the winner. But all those players back then, Overmars and Reisiger and the De Boers and all this, and you come into the stadium tonight and you see the people on the walls and for us now as an Irish club, coming to represent the league and the country against one of the European powerhouses, it's a special occasion.
What does John Russell expect from the Europa Conference League tie against Ajax?
Are you able to enjoy that a bit more as a manager and actually kind of take it in rather than, I presume if you're a player, you're just fully focused in the zone and playing the game?
Yeah, no, you can't. Yeah, it's all about the game. Obviously, it's unlike before here, we get to, you know, relaxing and get a little bit of a feel of the ball and the stadium after all the travelling. But yeah, once it comes to the game tomorrow, pressure winning matches, obviously we're not... expected to come and turn Ajax over but it's important that we try and keep ourselves in the tie and bring it back to Talcott Park but what a challenge for the players and for us as staff to compete against them
You talk about maybe people not expecting to be in the tie. If you look between the gap to two weeks, they've signed Julian Brandt and Marc-André Ter Stegen, two fellas with vast experience, played in World Cups.
How does Russell describe the challenges of facing a club with Ajax’s recent signings?
It just goes to show you the levels that Shelburne are playing at here. It's unbelievable.
Yeah, I don't think Ajax would normally be at this level of competition. It's a monster club, real history in Europe, but they've got the financial cloud and the history to bring players from bigger clubs. But it's an exciting challenge for us, for our young players to compete against these. It's about embracing it and hopefully for us playing well on the night, we know we're going to have to defend really well. We're away from home, but it's exciting as well.
Just for yourself, it's only been a couple of weeks in the gig, your reference there feels like it's been a couple of months.
What lessons has Russell learned about squad management and injuries this season?
I think it's felt that way for everyone, the way the season's kind of going. How have you found it and what have you learned from being in with the squad versus when you're maybe going against them when you're with Sligo?
Yeah, as a manager, coach, the last couple of years, you have a perception of the team and the players, but once you get into the building and you start working with them up close, There's obviously brilliant players here. They've been unlucky with a lot of injuries and when you don't have your best players available, it doesn't matter what type of sessions or coaches sometimes can over-complicate the game. You get your best players on the pitch, you give yourselves a chance of winning matches. The lads probably haven't been available enough this season. Even as they've come in, there's been players in and out, you're managing loads.
What are Russell’s plans for recruitment and playing style after this European match?
but I've seen some good signs even in the four games. I know some of the results haven't gone our way but I know what I want, I know where I want to take this team and how I want it to play. Certain players are going to fit into that system and that style. We'll obviously have to recruit players at the end of the season so it's about me implementing my ideas bit by bit between now and the end of the season because when you come in mid-season you can't blow things up and expect things to change magically overnight.
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Chapters
5 chapters
1
Why is playing at the Johan Cruyff Arena a special occasion for Shelbourne?
0:00–1:09
2
What does John Russell expect from the Europa Conference League tie against Ajax?
1:09–1:56
3
How does Russell describe the challenges of facing a club with Ajax’s recent signings?
1:56–2:33
4
What lessons has Russell learned about squad management and injuries this season?
2:33–3:09
5
What are Russell’s plans for recruitment and playing style after this European match?
3:09–3:52
Speakers
2 identifiedMore from OTB Football
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