Ireland manager Martin O’Neill stands firm amid growing calls for dismissal

Martin O’Neill has declared, amid growing calls for his reign as Republic of Ireland manager to be terminated and dwindling numbers of fans paying to attend home matches, he will definitely lead the team to the finals of the 2020 European Championship. Asked why he was so confident, he replied: “Because I’m good.”

The manager, who signed a contract extension until 2020 in January, was speaking in the wake of Tuesday’s 1-0 home defeat by Wales that left the Irish bottom of their Nations League group with one point and one goal from three matches. Factoring in friendlies, Ireland have not won any of their past five games.

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Not helped by injuries to key players, performances have been dull and fans have gone missing. Dublin’s Aviva Stadium was far from full for the visit of Wales and the official attendance of 38,321 was perhaps the only sign of Irish creativity on the night. After the game several local pundits and newspapers suggested O’Neill and his assistant, Roy Keane, should be replaced but the manager remains adamant he will prove critics wrong. “I’ll win,” he replied three times when asked about the pressure he is under.

O’Neill acknowledged this was his most testing period since his appointment in November 2013 but said he would not buckle. “It’s definitely a challenge and it’s a challenge I’m up for,” he said. “At the end of the day we’ll have people ready for the games. And I’ll be ready and we’ll go through. Simple as that.”

O’Neill guided Ireland to the knockout stages of Euro 2016, as well as to a qualifying play-off for the 2018 World Cup, and he is especially eager to reach Euro 2020 because Dublin will host some of the group games. The draw for the last qualification stages of the tournament takes place in the Irish capital in December with matches getting under way in March. Ireland’s poor Nations League results mean they are likely to go into the draw ranked as a third-tier team. O’Neill is undaunted.

“We were fourth seeds in the World Cup and we got through to the playoffs,” he noted. “So it hasn’t been a real problem. You look at some of the sides who might be seeded second and third and you could turn around and think there’s not a phenomenal difference.”

Roy Keane said in a recent interview he would like to return to club management at some point. O’Neill says he would not try to stand in his assistant’s way but is confident they will still be together at Euro 2020. “It’s fine whatever he does as long as the FAI are happy with that if the case comes up. But also, he’s always shown great loyalty, he’s never left the cause ... I think together we will make it.”

There is the possibility of the West Ham midfielder Declan Rice making himself available for selection by Ireland again. The London-born 19-year-old, who has earned three senior Irish caps in friendlies under O’Neill, opted out of the Nations League matches to consider switching allegiance to England. Gareth Southgate has expressed interest in him. O’Neill says he will talk again with the player and would like a definitive answer by the end of this year. “There’s a stage when no matter how talented you are, you have to come to some sort of decision,” he said.

Glimmers of hope have been provided by one or two players introduced over the last few games, most obviously from the Preston North End forward Callum Robinson. “I’ve never really turned on my players,” O’Neill said. “Not that I need to, not with the effort they put into the games, which is phenomenal. We’re short of some things but in terms of spirit, drive and determination it’s absolutely there. We can turn the corner.”