Linfield boss David Healy has urged his players to take the “shackles off” and enjoy the challenge of facing Montenegrin champions FK Sutjeska in the Europa League.
Sutjeska, who won their league title at a canter in May and are just one game into their new domestic season, are favourites to progress to the next round.
But the Blues, who beat HB Torshavn in the previous round, are eager to secure a positive result to take back for next week’s return leg at Windsor Park.
Ahead of tonight’s game at the Gradski Stadion in Podgorica, Healy said: “They are champions of Montenegro and we know it will be tough ask, but I want us to express ourselves.
“I want to see us play with the shackles off. We’ve shown a lot of pride in Europe so far this summer and this is another tie we should relish.
“We should go out there with a freedom to play and also with the knowledge, led by me and the staff, that there is an opportunity for us in this tie.
“Our aim is to secure a positive result and make sure it’s still ‘game on’ when we come to play them in the second leg at Windsor Park.”
It says much of Healy’s eye for detail that Linfield began their homework on Sutjeska prior to last week’s 1-0 win over HB in Belfast, a result that sealed a 3-2 aggregate win.
Sutjeska beat Slovan Bratislava in the first qualifying round of the Champions League , but dropped into the Europa League after losing to Cypriot side APOEL.
“The players have taken all the information on board and we are really looking forward to the game in Montenegro now,” said Healy.
“It’s another challenge for us but I believe we will be competitive because the players have put in a lot of hard work and their attitude is spot on.
“They deserve a lot of credit for getting us to this stage."
- If Linfield progress to the play-off round of the Europa League, they will face either APOEL (Cyprus) or Qarabag (Azerbaijan).
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