Shamrock Rovers manager says former Liverpool winger 'still thinks he's a player' as Hoops prepare for lucrative UEFA group stage
Rovers’ 3-1 third-round win over the Slovenian champions after extra time last night secured a place in the Europa League play-offs against Greek side PAOK, while also securing a place in the Conference League group stage as the Tallaght club secured a guaranteed €3.8 million in UEFA prize money thanks to Graham Burke’s winning goal.
With his team arriving in Dublin with a 1-0 lead, Riera made no secret of his feelings on the eve of the second leg that his Celje team were better than Rovers, as the former Spain international told the Irish Independent: “The feeling is that we are the team that should dominate. I would say we are better than the opposition.”
And after Rovers gave their supporters a night they would never forget, Bradley admitted that Riera's arrogance only gave his team more determination to get the job done, adding that the likes of the Celje boss need to leave their egos at home.
Celje head coach Albert Riera talks to Celje's David Zec during their Europa League defeat at Tallaght Stadium in Dublin. Photo: Ben McShane/Sportsfile
“They just felt so arrogant in everything they did and how they spoke. Their manager was arrogant, he gave us no respect,” said Bradley, who became the first League of Ireland manager to guide a team to two European group stages.
“You could feel that there (in the first game in Slovenia), you could feel it in his pre-game press, so I knew with his arrogance, which was very similar to Vikingur's, that they would be susceptible to our willingness to hurt them, and they did.
“I think these managers think that just because they've had a good playing career, that it takes over in managing and coaching. They need to put their egos aside and really do their job.
“He still thinks he is a player. He was a good player, but when you become a coach and manager, that is a thing of the past. You have to do your job and respect the opponent.
“He showed complete arrogance and a lack of respect for us as a club, the staff and the players. I knew that if we got them back here, we would beat them, because of that arrogance.
“You saw how Sparta came here, they gave us the ultimate respect in how they defended and pressed. Vikingur and Celje were the opposite and they were punished for that. The players deserve all the credit, but his arrogance really hurt them.
“It was an easy one for the (Rovers) team (to be motivated by Riera's comments), you just have to repeat what he said. It didn't surprise me at all. When you play against the top teams – we've played plenty of them – you can see why they are top level.
“They use class in everything they do and how they conduct themselves. As you go down the levels, you start to see people who think they are top level, but they are not, and he thought he was top level.
“A good player, but it's irrelevant. That time is over. Complete arrogance. His comments in the press on Wednesday were brilliant for us.”
Riera gave the Premier Division champions no credit for their monumental victory and appeared to have no regrets about the confident comments he made to this publication before the match.
“It's very simple. We made a lot more mistakes than Rovers and we lost the game. We didn't deserve to win. So it's not so much that they won, it's more that we lost the game,” Riera said.
“I always have confidence. If you don't have confidence, what do you have? I have to have confidence in my team. Still, I think we are a better team than Shamrock Rovers, but we have to show it on the pitch. We made a lot of mistakes.
“I don't think you can tell me that Shamrock Rovers were better than us in the end. It's about who makes the least mistakes. The first penalty is a gift, the second (Rovers goal), from a throw-in, is almost a gift. So you give them goals.”
With a Europa League play-off first leg next Thursday at Greek champions PAOK, who recently beat Bohemians in 2021 Conference League qualification, Bradley reflected on an “incredible” performance as the Hoops became the first domestic side to reach the group stage three times.
“When we came here two years ago I said we wanted to make sure we weren't going to be a club for another 10 or 15 years,” Bradley said.
“I felt this group could do it. It's an incredible feeling to do it. Two years out of three is special and the players deserve all the credit, incredible. They stood up as men, crossed the white line and delivered. An incredible feeling.
“We'll take a few days off, come back, refocus, go to Greece and try to win the game back here. What we saw there, we can get back at anyone here, we can beat anyone here. That's absolutely the focus, heading into the group stage of the Europa League.
“I texted Stephen (Kenny) earlier to wish St Pat's luck. Hopefully they can get through to the group stages of the (Conference League).
“It just shows that the league is improving. It can only be good for the league, our coefficient too, but the league as a whole in the future. It's really important that we keep building in the groups now, hopefully in the Europa League. The plan is to win games.”
Rovers captain Roberto Lopes produced a performance that will not stand the test of time to help his side over the line at Tallaght Stadium. The centre-back said it was special to qualify on home soil for the first time.
“It's amazing, it was one of our goals this season to get through to the group stage and to finally do it is an incredible feeling. It was a special night in Tallaght, one to remember forever,” added the Cape Verde international.
“The plan was to have a nice photo in the crowd but it didn’t go to plan at all,” he smiled after a number of Rovers players and staff jumped into the south stand to celebrate with the fans during the closing stages of the match.
“We had a sing song, a jump around and a near stampede, but moments like this are near and far in your career, so it's important to make the most of it. To do it together is an amazing feeling.
“We have a great game against PAOK next week, which we can really enjoy and have a chance to get into the Europa League, which would be great. That's the goal anyway. We know we're looking forward to some ties, how can you not be excited about that?
“It’s great. Irish clubs are outperforming expectations again! To have ourselves in the group stage and St Pat’s just barely, it’s exciting times. Hopefully it’s something everyone can get behind.”