‘You wanted this as a kid' – Joey O'Brien urges Shelbourne players to enjoy European clash with Linfield
The
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O'Brien stepped up from his role as assistant manager when Damien Duff left
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Shelbourne find themselves 1-0 up on aggregate going into the tie
The Reds lead
He said: 'Not a lot of lads get a chance to play in a Champions League qualifier, not many lads get a chance to win a Champions League qualifier.
"It's great, but ultimately it's about going through to the next round. That's what it's all about.
'I do tell the lads that's not a pressure, that's not something you fear. That shouldn't be something that makes you think, 'If this goes wrong . . . '
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'This is what you wanted as a kid, it's to be in these games, it's the pinnacle of club football.'
The Dubliners lead 1-0 thanks to a Mipo Odubeko strike in a first leg they absolutely dominated.
And their boss — who won the league with the Reds as No 2 to
Former Shamrock Rovers, West Ham and Bolton Wanderers defender O'Brien, 39, added: 'It's just about going out and embracing it and enjoying it and showing how good a player you are.
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'That's a big thing for me coming into the job and talking to the boys, 'Just go out and show how good a player you are'. That's the biggest thing for me.
'When I was a player, that's what I wanted to be told by a coach, 'Just go out and show people how good you are . . . you're good enough to be at this level'.
Celtic launch new away kit with trailer featuring Scottish music icon and Hoops legends
'They've earned the right to be at this level, they done that last year, now it's about going out and having no regrets.'
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