THE LAST time Giovanni Trapattoni dropped by the home of the FAI’s main sponsors for a public engagement they threw him a birthday party, and there was a celebratory mood again yesterday as what seemed like a sleepy day at Eircom HQ was interrupted by the announcement the Italian has signed up to stay in his current role for another two years.
With pretty much everyone feeling the pinch right now, the financial arrangement was high on the media’s agenda and when someone enquired of John Delaney whether the manager would be on higher wages for the 2012 European Championship campaign, Trapattoni quickly interjected: “No more! No more!”
He went on to suggest it hadn’t been a matter for discussion, which most present took to be an indication he and his team will continue to paid what they have been up to now – an estimated €2 million per year in the case of the 70-year-old and roughly half as much again for his combined management team.
Liam Brady’s continued involvement has yet to beconfirmed, with Delaney stating that he expected it would take a matter of weeks for the Dubliner to sort out his position with Arsenal where he works as Head of Youth Development and Academy Director.
Delaney, needless to say, was “delighted” by the agreement and confirmed Denis O’Brien will continue to stump up a portion, believed to be roughly half, of the entire deal – around €1.5 million per annum.
Trapattoni also looked pleased with the way things have turned out. He had, he said, offers from “England and other countries”, but said: “I didn’t want to talk to them at this time.”
It is, he said, a matter for other people to decide whether he, Marco Tardelli, Fausto Rossi and Brady have done a good job thus far, but, he said, “I think we have done enough and now we can do more with this group”.
His subsequent assertions that “we are a humble team,” and that “we are not rubbish” certainly seemed to underline his belief that there is still some room for improvement.
Pressed on whether this may be his last job in management, he wasn’t having any of it. “On the television I saw a German manager working in Oceania and he is 80,” he said. “I said to my wife that maybe I can keep going until then.”
The statement was greeted with laughter on the part of those present, prompting Trapattoni to add: “No really, I said that to her.”
The scheduled part of the day’s business had been the naming of his squad for the forthcoming games against Italy and Montenegro (October 10th and 14th) and here too it was pretty much a case of business as usual.
Steven Reid has been included in a preliminary group of 27, but Trapattoni said it will be a little while yet before he is able to make an accurate call on whether the midfielder will be fit enough to play a part in the games.
“I spoke yesterday with Steven and he told me that he’s not fit to play now. It could be dangerous (to play him if he’s not ready), but he’s in the squad and we have to decide on his fitness later.”
Aiden McGeady is included, despite an ankle injury, and Trapattoni sounded confident the Celtic winger will be fine, but there is no Steve Finnan, with the Portsmouth full back still at least a week away from playing his first game for his new club due to a hamstring problem.
“Ireland need two points from next month’s games, Trapattoni observed, to be sure of second place but, he joked: “I had a dream yesterday in which the group was decided in the last round of games.
“Like in the other games, we will play to win. They are the world champions, but we can play them without fear. It’s important that the team believes in our qualification.”
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND SQUAD(v Italy and Montenegro) Given (Manchester City), Westwood (Coventry), Murphy (Scunthorpe); O'Shea (Manchester United), Foley (Wolves), Dunne (Aston Villa), Kelly (Fulham), Kilbane (Hull), Nolan, St Ledger (both Preston), McShane (Hull), O'Dea (Reading); McGeady (Celtic), Duff (Fulham), Gibson (Man Utd), Whelan (Stoke), Andrews (Blackburn), Miller (Hibernian), S Hunt (Hull), Keogh (Wolves), S Reid (Blackburn), Lawrence (Stoke), Folan (Hull), Doyle (Wolves), Keane (Tottenham), Long (Reading), Best (Coventry).
Ireland 'mistake'
GIOVANNI TRAPATTONI maintained yesterday there must have been some sort of “mistake” involved in the newspaper interview last week in which Stephen Ireland was quoted as saying that the Italian was arrogant in his dealings with him.
“It’s not like I’m calling anybody a liar,” said the manager. “I know the situation. In Italy it’s as bad. But I don’t believe what I read or that he said it. It must be clarified whether it’s true of it’s a mistake. I’m 90 per cent sure it’s a mistake.”
In relation to the player’s confirmation that he will not be returning to the team, Trapattoni remarked: “If it’s true that he said that he’s not coming back then I’m sorry. I think he can still change his mind, though. I hope so. It would not be a problem for me.”
