‘He can talk as much as he wants' – Carla Ward fires back at Slovenia boss after his cocky gloating last time out
CARLA WARD batted away suggestions that Slovenia manager Sasa Kolman had outfoxed her when his side thumped Ireland 4-0 in February.
Kolman trumpeted his 'tactical win'
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Ireland need to overturn a four-goal disadvantage in goal difference tonight
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February's drubbing at Bonifika Stadium in Koper got Ward's tenure off to a bumpy start
But ahead of a rematch in Cork tonight that Ireland must win by four goals or more to finish top of League B2, boss Ward hit back, saying: 'I'm going to concentrate on us and what we do. He can talk as much as he wants.
'It's not hard to look at a Carla Ward team over the last eight years and work out how I like to play the game.
'He can comment all he likes. It just shows that he's probably had a look at my career, which I can take a little bit of confidence from.
My focus is on my team and how we set up.'
If Ireland can get the big win they desire, they will achieve automatic promotion to League A and with it, a guaranteed play-off spot for the 2027 World Cup.
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But Lucy Quinn and Aoife Mannion, who have started all five games under Ward to date, are both doubtful.
Birmingham forward Quinn has been struck by illness and looks unlikely to feature.
Manchester United defender Mannion is suffering from a quad issue after a long season but may play a part.
Ward explained: 'She's a doubt, but not a major doubt. It's an overload more than anything.
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'She's finished the season, gone straight out to Portugal to play in the sevens, and it's managing her load.
'We're hopeful that she'll be fit. She's massively important for what we want to do and the way we want to play.'
Crystal Palace could be KICKED OUT of Europa League before a ball is even kicked
Ireland have switched to a possession-based style under Ward.
Yet, both of their late goals in the 2-1 win against Turkey last Friday — an own goal
Ward would not be drawn on any plans to mix things up.
She replied: 'I can't say, can I? I'm not going to tell you that.
'What I will say is we are preparing ourselves in the best possible way to go and get the job done.
'There's so many different permutations but we've whittled it down.
'We need to win by four clear goals, which sets it up for an exciting evening.'
On managing in Cork for the first time — the scene of Ireland's famous win over big guns France in League A last year — Ward added: 'I've heard an awful lot about the crowd here. I've heard an awful lot about the good times here.
'We'll be ready. We know what we have to do. We're going to have to be aggressive but also secure at the same time.'
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