League of Ireland champions begin their Champions League qualification campaign in Iceland
Rovers’ head coach Stephen Bradley: 'It has the makings of a really good tie. I do believe if we’re fully focused and bring our identity to the game over the two legs I believe we have enough to go through.' Photograph: Ryan Byrne/InphoFollowing back-to-back defeats, the second especially disappointing at Sligo Rovers, Stephen Bradley spoke of Shamrock Rovers having regained their identity after last Thursday’s 1-0 home win over Dundalk.
“We need to bring that. If we bring that over the two legs we’ve a chance of winning the tie. If we don’t it won’t be enough because these are a good side,” he added of the task ahead, starting on Víkingsvöllur’s artificial surface “Like Breidablik last year, they’re well coached and all their triggers are good. It’s going to be a good tie, 50-50.”
While their manager Arnar Gunnlaugsson came to watch Rovers last Thursday, Bradley and his staff have likewise done their due diligence on Rovers’ opponents. “They are really dangerous. A really high percentage of their goals come from crosses – we’re going to have to be really good to stop that. But I genuinely believe we can hurt them going the other way.
With that in mind, Bradley believes he has better options, especially out wide, ahead of this year’s foray into Europe.“I think it’s really important that you have good options in wide areas when it comes to Europe. You need pace and power and we have that available this year which we didn’t have last year.”
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