Former midfielder Paul McAreavey insists Jamie Mulgrew is the man to lift Linfield following their Unite the Union Champions Cup nightmare.
The Windsor Park side endured an Oriel Park horror show on Monday night as they crashed to a 6-0 defeat to League of Ireland kingpins Dundalk.
The 7-1 aggregate loss was labelled "embarrassing" by Linfield boss David Healy, with the Blues boss insisting he would shoulder the responsiblity for his side's collapse .
McAreavey says the players have to share the blame for the Champions Cup malaise, and has backed skipper Mulgrew to galvanise the squad ahead of Saturday's trip to Institute.
Mulgrew broke into Linfield's team during McAreavey's time at the club, featuring in the Clean Sweep squad of 2005/06 and becoming a key figure in the side that won six league and cup doubles in seven seasons.
Speaking on this week's That's What I Call Football podcast , McAreavey said: "Jamie will be hurting. He was coming through when I was at Linfield, and he learnt off the group of players Linfield had back then and the winning mentality we had.
"He has brought that (winning mentality) on himself and helped the players who came in after.
"Linfield will all be absolutely devastated losing 6-0 in a big game, especially as this is the first Unite the Union Champions Cup.
"They are going to be very disappointed. Fair play to David Healy for taking responsibility, but the players have to take responsibility. Losing 6-0 is not good enough."
Linfield will look to shake off their all-island dejection when they travel to the Brandywell to face Institute on Saturday.
And McAreavey - who won four league titles with the Blues from 2003 to 2009 - doesn't believe they will dwell on their collapse against Dundalk.
"The manager won't let them, either will the club or the fans," he added.
"That's what Linfield is all about.
"There will be nobody more disappointed than themselves. They will get the head down and move onto the next target, and that's retaining the league.
"They have had a stop-start season after their European campaign. And they have done really well this season when I have seen them.
"For me, it was an off night and there are probably reasons behind the scenes why that happens.
"But they will not want to get beat 6-0 in the final. Nobody would."
McAreavey - currently head scout at Ballymena United - added: "The manner of the defeat will hurt David Healy, especially after drawing 1-1 at Windsor in the first leg.
"Dundalk are the best side on the island, no doubt about it. They are full-time and are winning leagues an cups regularly.
"LInfield showed what they are about in the first leg, but to be humbled 6-0 at Oriel Park isn't good enough for anyone. But personally I would put it down to a bad night. An off night."
Listen to the full episode here:
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