Stephen Kenny defends latest Republic of Ireland loss with reference to ‘hammerings’ under previous managers
Republic of Ireland manager Stephen Kenny has defended his tenure
Stephen Kenny says he will wish his successor well if he is replaced as Ireland manager after a review into the international year is presented to the FAI board next week.
But ahead of Tuesday's friendly at home to New Zealand, a game Nathan Collins misses due to injury but where Evan Ferguson has been passed fit, Kenny has reflected on Saturday's 1-0 loss away to the Netherlands, asking for context on the narrow scoreline.
And he is likely to irk predecessors such as Martin O'Neill by pointing out that Kenny's team had not lost 4-1 to Wales, as happened under O'Neill's tenure or been "hammered" by Cyprus as was the case under Staunton or Macedonia under Mick McCarthy.
"We played Holland the other night, one of the best teams in Europe. People will have their own opinions on it but I thought it was a good game of football," Kenny said today.
"No question, Holland were the better team. We fought to the end of that game, we didn't create enough, we know that, and we defended for our lives when we needed to. It wasn't like we lost 4-1 to Wales or got hammered in Cyprus or Macedonia the other night, it was a tight game in Holland that we lost 1-0 and deserved to lose. It was one of those games, I think a bit of perspective on that," added Kenny, who accepts that his fate is out of his hands, with a call to be made soon by the FAI board.
"I sought clarification before this window in regard to my own position, and if that wasn’t the case, I would have made that clear earlier in the week," Kenny said.
"But from my point of view, the decision is being made next week. If it is my last game, so be it, if there is a new manager to follow me in that regard, I’ll wish
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