noelyf
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Wednesday, 20 July 2011
Shamrock Rovers manager Michael O'Neill is looking forward to testing his side against Danish champions Copenhagen in the third qualifying round of the Champions League.
The Hoops progressed from the second round following an impressive aggregate victory over Estonia champions FC Flora in Tallinn on Tuesday.
Speaking to RTÉ Radio's Sport At 7 following their historic victory, the Rovers boss said: "We played very well. I thought we dominated the game from start to finish, the second half in particular. We had a lot of good opportunities, a lot of great balls into the box, we just couldn't get that final touch.
"We were disappointed not to have won by more in the home leg but that win proved to be enough and we dominated the tie in both legs.
"They had some quality players in their side that were capable of hurting us, particularly from dead-ball situations."
Former Northern Ireland international O'Neill and assistant Jim Magilton will stop off in Copenhagen en route from Tallinn to watch their next opponents play a friendly game against West Ham. http://www.techkings.org/peer-peer-...-west-ham-united-live-streaming-football.html
And the fact that the Danish league is yet to start and Copenhagen are essentially still in pre-season mode, the Rovers boss believes that will work to the Hoops' advantage.
O'Neill said: "We are mid-season and they are pre-season so that might work in our advantage.
"We have everything to gain as we are not favourites going into the game and it gives the players and the club a chance to enhance their reputations."
And O'Neill is convinced that he has the squad numbers and the quality to deal with the extra fixtures, as there will be at least four more European games this season.
The Rovers boss added: "We will have to balance the play. We have 22 players and enough quality in our squad to enjoy the European experience and ensure then that we don't slip up with our league form and that's a challenge that everyone is looking forward to."
As well as progressing to enjoy a minimum of four additional European games, Shamrock Rovers are set to benefit financially as reward for the success, but according to Hoops chairman, Jonathan Roche, it is not all about the money as the club builds up its profile at home and abroad.
Roche said: "It's about the profile and the gates. If we don't beat Copenhagen, which we'll obviously be trying to do, we'll have a Europa League play-off.
"This gives us high profile games all the way through to September when hopefully we'll still be in the running for the league and the cup so it's very important for the football club.
"The money helps of course but it's not as simple as that, as it doesn't come straight away. We've got a big squad with 22 players, as everyone keeps talking about, and they're coping admirably. The players want to be in Europe and playing big games in the league.
"They're playing Copenhagen, who reached the Champions League last 16 last year, so I don't think there will be a problem there."
And Roche made sure to acknowledge the work that fellow league clubs have done in Europe over the past few years to help improve the Airtricity League's coefficient in the UEFA rankings.
Roche added: "We've benefitted from the coefficient that has built up over the last few years and if you look at the ties last week, 16 of the 17 seeded teams won, so it's important to keep the coefficient up for whoever is in the Champions League to be seeded as it gives great opportunities."
The game in Tallinn saw Alan Mannus' Shamrock Rovers career draw to a close as the Northern Ireland international is moving to Scottish Premier Division side St Johnstone.
And Rovers manager O'Neill was full of praise for his departing goalkeeper, wishing him well in Scotland.
O'Neill said: "Alan has been excellent since he came to the club. The two years he has been with us, he has been a model professional.
"But we've got Richard Brush and Ryan Thompson so we're well covered and those lads will get a chance now."