MARTIN O’NEILL accepts that many of the players involved for Scotland and the Republic of Ireland will be running on fumes by the time they take to the pitch at the Aviva Stadium this evening – but the 70-year-old insists there is nothing else for it but to get on with the job in hand.
As a former international manager himself, the 70-year-old accepts that the addition of new competitions such as the Nations League leads to yet more fixtures being crammed into an already hectic schedule.
The likes of Liverpool defender Andy Robertson and Celtic midfielder Callum McGregor have over 60 games under their belts already in the last 12 months and with a couple more Scotland matches coming up in the next few days, any prospect of a well-earned rest is still a little distant.
However, as someone who boasts a wealth of experience in the club game and international football, O’Neill is well-placed to weigh up the concerns of both camps. Domestically, teams are keen for their players to avoid picking up any injuries but after seeing how useful the Nations League can be after Scotland qualified for last summer’s delayed European Championships via UEFA’s latest brainchild, he believes the needs of the county must take precedence.
“I noticed that the Armenia manager was kicking off about the number of games and I take that point,” O’Neill said. “You are talking about four games in 10 days.
“The only thing is – when else are you going to fit them in? You know that the games are played at this time of the year where it’s difficult.
“I don’t know how many games Robertson will have played at the very top but he has gone from the disappointment of the Champions League final to the disappointment of not getting the opportunity to go down to Wales [for the World Cup play-off final].
“Now you are thinking ‘where is your headspace?’. But they just have to come because this competition has taken on some importance.
“As a club manager the minute there were friendly games talked about you just go ‘Oh, here we go’. We didn’t all do an Alex Ferguson and pull everyone from international duty.
“Now there are seemingly fewer friendly matches played, hence the competition being started.
“I understand that people want to play competitive games for their county but as a club manager… You are desperate for a player to get a two-week break.
“Then you come back and what happens – we go and spoil it by having one week pre-season and then heading off to America! So maybe we shouldn’t complain.”
It is a feeling that O’Neill’s latest successor at Parkhead, Ange Postecoglou, will be able to relate to. After guiding Celtic to the Premiership title and the Premier Sports Cup in his first season in Scotland, the Greek-Australian will have been hoping to use this month and the next as an opportunity for his players to recharge their batteries.
Many will have done just that but fresh doubt has been cast over central defender Carl Starfelt after the 27-year-old picked up an injury whilst on international duty with Sweden.
O’Neill reckons it will be a frustrating outcome for Postecoglou but as he points out, the roles are often reversed in the days leading up to an international break.
“This is it,” O’Neill observed. “You have your heart in the mouth.
“But if you look at it the other way as an international manager, the week of the games you are hoping your best players come through on a Saturday or a Sunday. International managers want their best players available.”
