Nov 28,2024
Shamrock Rovers are approaching Thursday's Conference League match at Rapid Vienna with no fear, boss Stephen Bradley has stressed.
Rovers head to Austria unbeaten in their three matches so far, having drawn 1-1 with Apoel, then defeated Larne 4-1 and the New Saints 2-1.
Rapid, two-time Cup Winners’ Cup runners-up, are three places and two points better off with a 100% record from games against Istanbul Basaksehir, Noah and Petrocub.
Bradley told Rovers’ official website: "It’s a very difficult game, there’s no doubt about that.
"Rapid is a big club, a big team with a big tradition. We know they have some really good players when you watch them, so we know it’s a difficult game. But we’ve played a lot of top teams, so we’ll have no fear and we’ll go with a gameplan.
"Obviously we have to respect what they’re good at but at the same time, when we get our times in the game, we’ll see if can we hurt them and that will be the aim.
"They have a really clear identity in what they try to do. They’re a possession-based team, a lot of movement and rotation in the final third of the pitch. They try and penetrate at every opportunity so they’re a good team with good players, but that’s the standard at this level of competition.
"We’ll give them the respect that they deserve, but we’ll do everything possible to get something out of the game."
