Vinny Perth: 'This is an opportunity to create a new future and forget the past of the club'

Vinny Perth is back in the hot seat at Oriel Park.

On a personal note, Europe has offered Perth somewhat of a redemption shot, having been dismissed at this time last year following his first European game, a 3-0 defeat to Celje in Slovenia. Credit: Clare McCahill (ETPhotos)

Dundalk boss Vinny Perth has backed under-fire Wilfried Zahibo to play an important role in the club’s Europa Conference League campaign.

The Central African midfielder was handed a rare start in the 2-2 first-leg draw with Levadia Tallinn in Tallaght last week and lasted an hour before being replaced by Greg Sloggett.

Zahibo was partially culpable for the visitors’ second goal as he and midfield partner Sam Stanton hesitated over a loose ball.

A section of the home support was on the 27-year-old’s back for much of the game and his substitution was greeted with ironic cheers from some fans.

Zahibo has had a stop-start beginning to his time at Dundalk, with a Covid-19 diagnosis and mandatory hotel quarantine following international trips hampering his fitness.

The one-time MLS MVP showed his class on the ball in the build-up to David McMillan’s equaliser in Tallaght, however, and Perth feels that ability to vary the tempo will be key in Tallinn.

“Wilfried's ability [is] to keep the ball and [with] the high intensity of our league it has taken him a while to adjust to it, there's no doubt about that,” he told reporters.

“In European football there is no doubt he's better suited to it. Greg came on and gave us something last week.

“We’ll come up with the right combination. We're obviously still missing Michael so it won't be too dissimilar to what we did last week.

“At the same time we've got real strength in depth overall on the bench now. Sean Murray got game time in him the other day and Cameron Dummigan as well.



“Pat Hoban is obviously now available so whoever starts I feel we've a much stronger bench, certainly than we had in Wales and it has even improved on last week.

“We're starting to see people back fit now and touch wood the Covid issues disappear from the group.  This is an opportunity to create a new future and forget the past of the club.

“It's an opportunity for people like Wilfried, Greg and Sam Stanton to really put a mark on this club and on this competition.”

On a personal note, Europe has offered Perth somewhat of a redemption shot, having been dismissed at this time last year following his first European game, a 3-0 defeat to Celje in Slovenia.

The Killinarden man saw his side beat Newtown of Wales 5-0 on aggregate, and he enjoyed pitting his wits against a higher-calibre team in Levadia.

“I think it is a pinnacle [for a coach], tactically it is something different. This is where you want to test yourself, it is the pinnacle.



“Ultimately you don’t get to these occasions unless you’re successful the season before and that’s what it’s all about.

“You’ve got to look after your business in the league or cup situation. I think you’re representing Irish football when you travel away in a European competition.

“By and large, Irish clubs are starting to step up to the plate with results. Hopefully that continues but we need luck in draws as well and hopefully that continues.”