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‘You wanted this as a kid' – Joey O'Brien urges Shelbourne players to enjoy European clash with Linfield
JOEY O'Brien says tonight's all-island Champions League clash is not about the money — but rather, it is a chance for Shels' players to show their worth.
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'.
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'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.'