Sporting Life sporlife

Trap Counts On Trust Fund

Thu 01 May, 06:09 PM


New Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni has demanded his players trust him above all else if the boys in green are to again be successful.

The word 'trust' was one Trapattoni repeated on many occasions on the day he was finally introduced to an Irish public starved of a triumphant team to support.

Trapattoni is seen as the man to finally end Ireland's qualification drought after failing to reach the last three major tournaments.

The Football Association of Ireland, after the gross mistake they made in appointing rookie Steve Staunton last time out, have paid handsomely to attract a manager of Trapattoni's reputation.

The experienced 69-year-old Italian has won countless trophies as both player and manager during an illustrious career, and now the hope is that his magic rubs off on a squad that has underachieved for too long.

Trapattoni is insistent if his players learn to trust him, his ideas and philosophy, then together they can bring the good times back.

"All the Ireland players have to be proud to be in the national squad, that's the first thing," said Trapattoni, determined to put his thoughts across in English.

"After that, they must trust what I say because as I have said, in my life I have been lucky, but I also have many scars.

"So when the players trust me, trust my mentality, we can achieve 10 per cent more.

"We have some good players with good qualities, but they have to believe in me. That is important."

Trapattoni is charged with the task of ensuring Ireland qualify for the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa and he held up Greece of a prime example of what can be achieved by a small nation.

"I have already said I am here because we have good players, and we have a chance of qualifying," stressed Trapattoni.

"Look at Greece four years ago. Who thought Greece would win the European Championships?

"Ireland has experienced players who play in England, which is very important, and there is also youth, so we have a good blend.

"At first, I won't change things a lot. It's dangerous to do that. I don't want to make drastic changes to the team.

"From experience I know it's impossible to change things too much too quickly in one or two games, so I will only change a little.

"But I know for a good performance, with the good players we have and with good organisation, then we have a great chance."

As Trapattoni is such a stickler for detail, he has already viewed up to 30 dvds of the Republic in action, including from Staunton's ignominious reign.

He believes he could see where mistakes were made, but he refused to divulge too much, adding: "I intend to focus on the little details of what I felt went wrong.

"I will clarify these mistakes with the team and with the players individually because you have to appreciate players are delicate.

"I will have to work on their psychology first before I work on anything else."

Trapattoni certainly believes the challenge of managing Ireland will be like nothing he has experienced before.

However, in his bid for success he has surrounded himself with a blend of Italy and Ireland's finest.

Marco Tardelli and Liam Brady are his right-hand men, whilst he also has former Republic internationals Frank Stapleton and Mick Martin to call on, with Fausto Rossi serving as fitness coach.

There is a feeling if such an illustrious team are unable to get the best out of the current crop of players, then no-one can.

"I have always sought a challenge to bring out the best in me," added Trapattoni, his English was a touch 'staccato' on occasion - to borrow an Italian word - with an interpreter occasionally coming to his aid.

"When Don Givens (Republic Under-21 coach and a member of the three-man head-hunting panel) called and asked me if I would be interested in becoming Ireland manager, I became very excited.

"At that moment I was working in Salzburg (with Red Bull), but I needed a new experience, and I think this job is the right one at the right time for me."

More news from SportingLife.com