ROBERTSON READY FOR ARMENIAN CHALLENGE
Derry Journal, Ireland –
July 25 2007
DERRY CITY finally landed in the Armenian capital, Yerevan, early
yesterday morning after an arduous 18-hour journey.
The side have precious little time to adjust ahead of today’s Champions
League first qualifying round tie, second leg, against Pyunik at the
Republican Stadium. (kick off 4 p.m BST)
Derry enter the game as underdogs and must find the net if they are
to progress, having only managing a scoreless draw in last Wednesday’s
first leg at the Brandywell. After arriving in Yerevan at 4.30 a.m. on
Tuesday, the squad have had precious little time to acclimatise to
the soaring temperatures.
Manager John Robertson said before leaving Ireland that he considered
Pyunik favourites to progress but the Scot added that the game was
far from a foregone conclusion.
"Our travel arrangements may not be ideal but they faced the same
difficulties coming to Ireland," said the Derry boss.
"They showed in the first game why they are champions of their own
league. But we showed that we could cause them problems and we have
to build on that during the game."
Derry central defender Darren Kelly has travelled with the squad
despite his impending move to SPL side Gretna, the club he helped to
defeat so memorably in last year’s historic UEFA Cup run.
Gary Beckett is the only certain absentee from tonight’s starting
line-up as Paddy McCourt, Peter Hutton and Sean Hargan all return
to the squad after sitting out the stalemate against Bohemians at
Dalymount Park at the weekend.
After last year’s European exploits which took them to Sweden,
Scotland and France, Derry would be desperately disappointed to bow
out at the first time of asking this summer.
If the Lone Moor Road side win today’s encounter they would face yet
another long journey to the Ukraine where Shaktar Donesk await in
the next round.
The financial benefits to the club who progresses will not have escaped
the clubs directors. Derry will receive an additional E100,000 if they
defeat Pyunik on their home soil and progress into the next phase of
the Champions League.
Not to mention the opportunity to further improve any future seeding
for Irish clubs in European competitions.
Robertson has revealed he is confident his side is strong enough to
continue its European adventure.
"The incentive is a tie against Ukrainian side, Shaktar Donesk in
the next round and that’s massive for everyone associated with Derry
City. That’s the motivation and I’m confident that my players will
give a good account of themselves,"Derry should have learned from
Paris St Germain last year when they went to France in exactly the
same position after a goalless draw and conceded two quick goals at
the start of the game.
Today’s match will be screened ‘live’ on RTE television with the
programme starting at 3.50 p.m. with the kick off at 4.00 p.m. And
both Radio Foyle and RTE Radio One will also broadcast the game ‘live’
from Armenia.