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Mick McCarthy had told his Republic of Ireland players to forget a desperately disappointing 12 months as he attempts to usher in a new era.<\/p>\nMick McCarthy had told his Republic of Ireland players to forget a desperately disappointing 12 months as he attempts to usher in a new era.<\/p>\n
The 60-year-old took his first training session since being appointed manager for the second time this morning and insisted he is looking forwards rather than back with Ireland\u2019s opening Euro 2020 qualifier in Gibraltar just days away.<\/p>\n
Ireland won only one of the nine internationals they played in 2018, a return which ultimately proved fatal for McCarthy\u2019s predecessor Martin O\u2019Neill, although the new man insists he has not even considered that run of results and whether it will affect the current squad.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cDo you know something? I\u2019ve never even considered it. I\u2019ve never thought about it at all. That\u2019s got nothing to do with me that, what happened before.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s up to me to get positive results and have people smiling again. Let\u2019s hope I can do that.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut what went on before me is not my problem and not my responsibility. It\u2019s my responsibility to change that. I\u2019ll be doing my damnedest to make sure that\u2019s not the case and I\u2019m sure the lads will.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re all proud of being in here and wanting to do well. I doubt they\u2019ll be happy with that record. I didn\u2019t know that record, I haven\u2019t looked back on what\u2019s gone on.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m looking forward and not considering what went on before me.\u201d<\/p>\n
McCarthy, who won 57 caps for Ireland as a player, famously guided the nation to the 2002 World Cup finals and is remembered fondly as a result.<\/p>\n
But asked if that would hold any sway with his players, he replied: \u201cI\u2019d like to think I get a good response from people because I\u2019ve had nearly a thousand games as a manager and as a coach, and how I, I guess, interact with the players<\/p>\n
\u201cHopefully I get their respect because of that, not because of what I\u2019ve done here. The last time I was here was 17 years ago.<\/p>\n
\u201cSome of them might remember me playing, I don\u2019t know, or managing even, never mind playing. None of them remember me playing. They might have seen it on an 8-track or something, I don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n
The trip to Gibraltar is one which should hold few fears for the Ireland \u2013 they scored 11 goals without reply when the sides met home and away during the Euro 2016 qualifying campaign \u2013 but the manager will treat them with the utmost respect.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cIt would be remiss of me if I didn\u2019t. I\u2019ve never, ever done it at any level I\u2019ve played at, treated somebody with disrespect, and I certainly won\u2019t be doing it on Saturday.\u201d<\/p>\n
McCarthy guided the Republic of Ireland to the last 16 of the 2002 World Cup during his first spell in charge (Toby Melville\/PA)
\nIt will be McCarthy\u2019s first European qualifier since the night in October 1999 when a last-gasp Macedonia goal in Skopje scuppered Ireland\u2019s hopes of automatic qualification, and he bristled when reminded of it.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cSince then, I\u2019ve had a few good results as well, so I think it\u2019s probably remiss of you to remind me of a night like that when I\u2019ve had pretty much more nights since that have been positive ones.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve won the Championship twice and nobody ever mentions that; I\u2019ve been in the Premier League and had a pretty good time since. Oh and we qualified for the World Cup as well, but thanks for reminding me of one of my worst nights.\u201d<\/p>\n