Shamrock Rovers aiming to cash big Czech in European glamour tie

Rovers stand to make €3.1m prize money if they beat Czech champs Sparta Prague

By: irishmirror.ie

Jul 22 2024
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Shamrock Rovers aiming to cash

Trevor Clarke insists Shamrock Rovers are not ready to Czech out of the Champions League just yet DESPITE getting a date with a genuine European heavyweight.

Rovers face Czech champs, Sparta Prague, tomorrow in Tallaght in the first leg of their second round tie, knowing the odds are stacked against them.

Yet Clarke is unworried about history, even though Sparta have won 38 Czech championships, and have serious European pedigree, having previously reached a European Cup semi-final, Cup Winners Cup quarter-final and Europa League quarter-final.

Their recent history is also impressive as they made it as far as the round of 16 in the Europa League last season before Liverpool demolished them 11-2 on aggregate.

But despite taking Galatasaray and Real Betis’ scalps last year, Clarke is not getting panicky about Sparta’s reputation.

He said: “We back ourselves against anyone in Tallaght. We saw how important a good crowd was last week in our first round win.

“Okay we then lost in the FAI Cup to Bohs but there's no better game to get back up for than another European night in Tallaght.

“We don't have time to feel sorry for ourselves, the games are coming thick and fast, it will be game after game for the next few weeks and you can't be looking back in disappointment.

“We have seen clips of Sparta and we know we are up against tough opposition, that they are a really good side, but over the last few years the lads have shown that at home the European nights have been special.

“We back ourselves against anybody and once we show up and do what we do, bring what we bring to the game, that's all we can do, try our best, and see what the result is.”

If Rovers lose they have a second chance via the Europa League to reach group stage football.

And even if they miss out on that secondary prize, they also have a third bite at a big group stage payday via the Conference League.

But Clarke isn’t thinking beyond tomorrow night.

He said: “As players we get told a lot of information about our European opponents but it’s about the lads buying into the gameplan.

“Sparta have really good players, five or six of whom played in the Euros so that shows the level and the standard you come up against. We have to give a good account of ourselves.”