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Stephen Kenny is convinced he can do \u201ca very good job\u201d as Republic of Ireland manager despite presiding over a catastrophic start to their World Cup qualifying campaign.<\/p>\nStephen Kenny is convinced he can do \u201ca very good job\u201d as Republic of Ireland manager despite presiding over a catastrophic start to their World Cup qualifying campaign.<\/p>\n
Kenny\u2019s 10-game reign plumbed new depths on Saturday evening when the Republic slipped to an ignominious 1-0 qualifier defeat at home to Luxembourg on a night when a first victory under the former under-21s boss was the only option.<\/p>\n
He later insisted he was not worried about his job despite mounting criticism and when asked why, he replied: \u201cIt\u2019s not something I\u2019m focusing on. From my point of view, I can\u2019t affect that. It\u2019s not something I\u2019m focusing on at all.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe all have setbacks at various times and I have absolute conviction that I\u2019m capable of doing a very good job here, but on this evidence that doesn\u2019t back it up, I do realize that.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have to do a hell of a lot better than that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kenny\u2019s planned elevation to the senior job as Mick McCarthy stepped aside did not meet with universal approval, and the hugely successful League of Ireland boss is facing an uphill battle to win over his detractors.<\/p>\n
The Republic will not be at this summer\u2019s rescheduled Euro 2020 finals after a heartbreaking penalty shoot-out defeat in Slovakia, and their chances of making it to the next year\u2019s World Cup finals have been drastically reduced after back-to-back defeats by Serbia and Luxembourg.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, Kenny remains defiant as he turns his attention to Tuesday night\u2019s friendly against hosts Qatar in Debrecen.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cI don\u2019t think it\u2019s up to me to convince people, what we\u2019ve got to do is get better results and better performances. We\u2019ve got another game now on Tuesday and we\u2019ve just got to go again.<\/p>\n
\u201cOver the campaign, we\u2019ve got to do a lot better than we did tonight. The performance against Serbia was excellent but ultimately, we didn\u2019t win. Tonight is a real setback for us, I\u2019m not denying that, there\u2019s no getting away from that.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have to accept the criticism, to be honest with you, that comes my way and fight harder to do better. That will be my intention.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ireland sit at the foot of Group A after two rounds of fixtures and with a trip to reigning European champions Portugal next up in September, when they also face Azerbaijan and Serbia at home, things could get worse before they get better.<\/p>\n
Asked if he believes qualification remains a possibility, Kenny replied: \u201cWell, it\u2019s only two games out of eight and there\u2019s a lot of football to be played.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve given ourselves a lot to do, there\u2019s no doubt about that. We\u2019re unlikely, of course, to win the group, but we still have to try to work hard to try to put ourselves in contention.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe three games in September will be very important. There will be nine points to play for, so we\u2019ve just got to try the maximum in that window.\u201d<\/p>\n