'Olympics? That's a non-argument' - Stephen Kenny slams TV companies and fixture congestion ahead of huge Euro night
Respect - or a lack of - is the hot topic as St Patrick’s Athletic aim to join Shamrock Rovers in the group stages.
They have done remarkably well to get to the Europa Conference League play-offs, beating far wealthier Swiss-based Liechtensteiner and Azeri opposition.
Stephen Kenny, just a few months into his role as Pat’s boss, feels his side has been underestimated on their journey so far.
And the lack of respect extends to these shores, where yesterday he echoed the sentiments of rivals Shamrock Rovers over the lack of television coverage of Irish clubs in Europe so far.
Kenny doesn’t buy that the Olympics have cost Irish clubs a chance to showcase their European exploits on live television.
Then there is the fact that Pat’s have to squeeze Premier Division games in between legs when their classy Turkish play-off opponents have a free weekend coming up.
Istanbul Basaksehir can focus all their attention on next week’s second leg while Pat’s have to go to Dundalk on Sunday, three days before the decisive game in Turkey.
“I think we were underdogs in all of our ties and certainly Sabah felt they would have progressed against us,” said Kenny.
“Vaduz certainly did, they've been in the group stages and were hugely disappointed.
“For us to get through, it's a level up now. Istanbul, different tactical challenges.”
RTÉ may have spent a small fortune covering the 2024 Games from Paris, but at the expense of covering Irish football in Europe?
“It is hard to believe really. It is hard to believe. I don’t really accept that it’s the Olympics, that’s a non-argument,” said Kenny.
“There are club games, GAA games, rugby Under-20, whatever right throughout other sports and different events.
“The Olympics are amazing, but I don’t think it’s just about that.
“I certainly don’t blame Shamrock Rovers (for threatening to exclude TV cameras), you can understand where they are coming from with that statement.
“When they are champions and in the Champions League and none of their games have been shown, and you know of you sort of… it’s strange like in your own country, you’re… there are words I want to use that I won’t use. But it is strange.”
As for the Dundalk game on Sunday, it certainly makes the challenge Pat’s face against a team that won the Turkish title just four years ago even harder.
Basaksehir’s recent European record has seen them record wins over Fiorentina, Manchester United, Copenhagen and Borussia Monchengladbach.
“It’s five and a quarter days or whatever (between legs),” said Kenny. “To have a match in the middle of that, a third one…
“You’ll make changes, but it affects our league form, which is important. If we took our next six points we’d be right up there.
“League points are important. I think it’s not only the fact of the changes or this that and the other, we have no time to actually prepare for the second leg, analyse the first leg; this is what we did wrong, this is what we did well.
“You can’t actually do any of that. You are playing Sunday, flying Monday, out there and training Tuesday and playing Wednesday.”
Basaksehir’s squad is packed with international footballers from Turkey, Cameroon, Greece and Poland, among other top nations.
Striker Krzysztof Piatek, who scored 16 goals across two seasons with Milan, netted for Poland at Euro 2024.
“A lot of speed in their play, uber aggressive, Atalanta style pressing, centre-back jumping into midfield all of the time,” Kenny said.
“They've a lot of good players so from our point of view we've had to play differently in all of our games and tactically adapt.
“It's a big mountain to climb but there's a good feeling among all of the players.
“It's a big challenge and we must embrace it, be ready for it and adapt to it. It's a different kind of challenge and we have to be ready.”
He added: “For the club, it’s a big challenge. I want it really for the players more than anything. For the players it’s really special.
“They dedicate their lives to their craft, which can have its ups and downs in the Irish environment.
“When they achieve things like this it gives them international credibility. It gives the players a chance to excel. I’d be delighted for the players and supporters, that is really special.”
Cian Kavanagh (back) is out, while illness cast doubts over Romel Palmer and Axel Sjolberg, but they should be cleared for tonight.
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