Stephen Kenny: 'We want to turn the performances into victories'

Stephen Kenny pictured in advance of his first game as Republic of Ireland under-21 manager, against Luxembourg, in March 2019.

Ireland are back in action on Saturday evening (kick-off 5pm). Credit: Michael P Ryan (ETPhotos)

Ireland manager Stephen Kenny knows that his side need to back up Wednesday’s heroic performance with three points at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.

In the first ever meeting between the sides, Azerbaijan are joint bottom of the group with Ireland on zero points.

They, like Ireland, have succumbed to single goal losses versus Portugal, Luxembourg, and Serbia, and although they are 112th in the world, Kenny knows he and his side can't take anything for granted.

“I think psychologically we have to just get ourselves prepared; we understand the challenges that Azerbaijan bring,” Kenny said, speaking at Friday’s press conference.

“We discussed that in our team meeting. We need to start the game well, and we need to bring intensity to the game.

“Azerbaijan are a good technical team; they can have good cohesive passing movements and we have to make sure that we have a level of intensity in our performance. We need to be creative on the night and show that we can break them down,” Kenny said.

Asked about playing out from the back, a cornerstone of the Kenny ‘project’, the Ireland manager accepted that while it does carry some risk, his players are comfortable playing that way.

“That's the way we are, we're not going to change it because of a mistake.

“I think we're geared towards playing that way, but it doesn't mean we can’t kick the ball out and go and beat the press, up to Adam Idah so he can hold it up, we’re not against that.

“We need to make sure all our players are comfortable in possession, and comfortable to build attacks from the back.”



On another night, Aaron Connolly may have won two penalties against Portugal, and Kenny rejected the suggestion that the Brighton striker goes down too easily in the box.

“Most people are of the opinion that the foul on Aaron in the second half was a penalty, when the defender came right through the back of him.

“That was an opportunity to go 2-0 up with 20 minutes to go. How that wasn't given, among other decisions, was a mystery to me.

“Aaron has a low centre of gravity. The way he dribbles at pace and he's always going to avoid tackles.

“Because he's so quick, inevitably he’ll get his fair share of penalties and free kicks.

“Ireland haven't had a penalty since Robbie Brady versus France at Euro 2016, that’s an unbelievable statistic” Kenny added.



With supporters returning to the Aviva for the first time since November 2019, Kenny insisted that his players will do everything they can to get the victory in front of the 25,000 fans.

“I think the crowd will get behind the players because they haven't been in the ground since the game against Denmark a long time ago. They've great affinity with the players.

“They want to get behind the players and make sure that they help inspire the players to a home victory. That would be ideal. We want to turn the performances into victories.”

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