James McClean is happy to leave ‘style over substance’ debates to punters in the pub and fans in the stands.
Because as Ireland face into the defining months of the Euro 2020 campaign, he insists results and results alone are all that matter.
“Credit comes when you’re winning games,” said the Derry man last night, hoping to put Stoke’s struggles on the back-burner going into Thursday’s clash with Switzerland.
“If you play good football and get beaten you might be applauded but you’re sitting at home watching major tournaments. Does it matter how you win?
Martin O’Neill’s style of play was deemed an eyesore by many while Mick McCarthy’s team is capable of mixing it up to suit in a notable shift from what went before.
Stephen Kenny - who McClean played under at Derry City - will be the main man after next summer’s finals and his attacking philosophy is no secret.
But while McClean would love to play eye-catching football every time he laces up his boots, it’s not always possible and won’t be the priority with four games to go.
Ireland sit top Group D on 10 points but have played minnows Gibraltar twice and the toughest games are looming large.
Qualification hopes hinge on what happens when Ireland face the Swiss home and away, Georgia away and Denmark at home in the final game.
Ahead of Thursday’s clash in Dublin, McClean was asked if Ireland can defy their third seed status and top the group.
He believes they can and wants to prove that Ireland are a good side and not just plucky outsiders punching above their weight.
“There’s only one thing that’s going to change that perspective – doing the business on the pitch against these teams,” said McClean.
“We’ve got a good opportunity on Thursday to take that first step and show that we’re a good side.
"When you’re playing the bigger sides you’d be more about how you stop them than how to impose yourselves on them.
“But from day one this manager has said to just get after teams, press them high, impose ourselves on them and make us horrible to play against.
“We want them coming off thinking ‘that was tough today, I don’t fancy playing them again.’
“That’s always been the way we are viewed; pride in the jersey, hard to beat, run through a brick wall.
“Have we ever been a 'nice on the eye' team? If you’re asking me, it doesn’t affect me. I only care about winning, no matter how.
“I don’t care if we’ve only 10% possession and we win a game because of an own goal. Three points on the board is all that matters.”
At 30, McClean has plenty of years ahead of him and hopes to be central to Kenny’s plans going forward.
He knows the old stereotype around the continent of Irish teams being physical and direct will get under Kenny’s skin.
The former Dundalk boss has said in the past that he does not buy the notion that the Irish team cannot play a more expansive game.
“Look, Stephen and I know each other,” said McClean with a smile.
But he added: “You shouldn’t have one or the other. We’re talking about perception here.
“It would be great if we win by playing nice football, but if we don’t then great too as long as we win games. It doesn’t mean my view is right. My view is just one.”
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