James McClean doesn’t often shy away from confrontation - on or off the pitch.
However, he decided to hold back yesterday when asked about Liam Brady’s post-match comments on Friday night.
After the Greece defeat. Brady blasted: “This is the worst group of players that any manager has had in my lifetime.”
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When that was put to McClean yesterday, on the eve of his 100th senior cap, he held fire.
“I'd be very stupid and naive for me to sit here and take on Liam Brady and criticise Liam Brady with the calibre of player that he was and what he was. I'm not going to do that,” said the Derry native, who was confirmed as captain ahead of tonight’s visit of Gibraltar.
“In terms of results wise, there was disappointment, anger and frustration because we weren't at our best.
“We prepared very well and were confident going into the game and it just didn't happen but that happens in football.
“But look, we have a tendency, especially in this country, to get carried away.
“We are two games in now. This country in the past has shown that we have big results in us when no one has expected it.
“So there is a lot of football to be played between now and the end of the campaign.
“We’re not naive, we know it’s going to be tough, very tough, but we have to start somewhere, and we aim to do that on Monday night against Gibraltar and take it a game at a time.”
It was current Ireland manager Stephen Kenny who handed McClean his senior club debut way back in July 2008, when he fielded the teenager in a League Cup clash for Derry City against Bohemians.
Aged just 16, McClean scored in a 4-1 win for the Candystripes.
Almost 17 years later and Kenny is at the helm for another major McClean milestone.
The Boys in Green boss explained that caretaker captain John Egan had no problem handing over the armband to his senior colleague.
“James McClean will captain the team,” said Kenny.
“John Egan is captain in Seamus’ absence. In discussion with John, he’s fully supportive of James being captain. It’s a special day for James and his family.
“I gave him his league debut when he was a teenager. To see him get 100 caps will be very special.”
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