Team News – Away vs FC Ararat-Armenia – 21-07-26
Rovers face FC Ararat-Armenia in Yerevan in a UEFA Champions League tie in Yerevan on Tuesday. Kick-off is 5pm Irish Time
The match will be streamed live on SolidSport
BUY STREAM
We made it through the second round of the FAI cup beating Cork City 4-1 in extra time on Friday night. With nine changes to the starting eleven from the Floriana game, it was a decent performance despite Cork taking it to extra time.
“We were really happy with the performance. Ideally, we’d liked to have won in ninety minutes, but it doesn’t always work out like that, and we’d made so many changes. All the players who came in were very good, the young players were excellent, it was a really good game at a good time for a lot of them.”
Players such as Naj Razi, Max Kovalevskis, Luke O’Regan and the return of on-loan Cian Barrett all contributed significantly on the day, so their performances gave everyone confidence as to where they are.
“I think we seen it against Hibs recently in that friendly and while it’s different in a competitive game, we saw the quality that’s there which is really pleasing in all our young players. When they get the opportunity, all they can do is show they’re ready, be ready and stay ready and to be fair, they have been. We know we’ll need everyone in the squad and they’re a very important part of it.”
We travelled to Armenia a day earlier than usual to prepare for our second qualifying round v Ararat. As we speak, how was the trip over and are you all well settled ahead of the game and was the difficult journey a factor in going early?
“We usually don’t go this early but with the time difference (Armenia is three hours ahead), the heat and us not having been here before, we felt it was important we came over early. That allowed the players to settle in last night, relax today and train this evening at their ground which is normal. We felt giving ourselves the extra day was important this time.”
What can you tell us about our opponents Ararat in terms of their playing style and potential dangers?
“They are very dangerous in wide areas with two really good wingers and some good central midfielders. They’re a good team who shocked a few in terms of their result against Riga in the last round, but they deserved to go through. They were good over both legs. They’re a good team but you’re expecting that at this level.”
John McGovern came out before the end of the Cork game; can you give us an update on him and any other injury news?
“John will miss tomorrow’s game, and we’ll see how he is for the second leg. Victor Ozhianvuna remains unavailable,
Dan Cleary and Danny Grant aren’t far away now, and Danny Mandroiu played thirty minutes on Saturday for our under 20s and came through that with no issues so that’s great. So that should clear him to return to the group now.”
