Dec 20,2024
Shamrock Rovers manager Stephen Bradley lamented the "basic" defensive errors in the first half of his side's 5-1 defeat to Chelsea but stressed his pride in the team's overall Conference League campaign as their European season stretches into the new year.
Three wins and two draws in their five games before tonight had already assured the Hoops of a spot in the Conference League knockout phase, marking the first time a League of Ireland club had progressed beyond a league/group phase in European competition.
Though they were sixth in the league table before tonight, and thus inside the top-eight teams who progress automatically to the last-16, it was understood that they would surely not remain there after their daunting trip to Stamford Bridge.
While Markus Poom's drilled equalising goal sparked rapturous scenes among the 3,000 strong away crowd, Rovers were consistently undermined by defensive mishaps at the other end.
Spanish teenager Marc Guiu completed a first half hat-trick, the first two goals coming after misjudged back-passes from Darragh Burns and then Dan Cleary, either side of Poom's strike.
Bradley bemoaned the errors that led to Chelsea's first two goals, though he did note that a relative lack of competitive match practice in the off-season had impacted their sharpness.
"We scored to make it 1-1 and you think 'Okay we're back in the game, where you wanted to be. And then we give them a basic goal. Against this level, they punish you.
"You saw tonight [that] we haven't played competitive football regularly in over a month. You could see the mental sharpness wasn't there. We were playing too many sideways and backwards passes, which gave them the press and they were really aggressive in their press.
"It's very unlike us to give them goals up. When you do that against this team, you're right up against it.
"They're a top team. If they want, they can win this competition quite easily. To come here and compete, you've got to be faultless and we weren't that."
Notwithstanding the scoreline in London, it has been a memorable autumn for Shamrock Rovers, who wind up in 10th spot at the end of the 36-strong league phase, with a February playoff against one of either Molde or TSC Backa Topola to progress to the last 16.
The first leg is fixed for three days before Rovers take on Bohemians in their 2025 league opener in the Aviva Stadium.
"Let's be clear, as a club and as a team, we don't compare ourselves to Chelsea and we don't judge ourselves off their level," he said. "They're competing at different levels and have been for a long time.
"We've got to be extremely proud as a club of where we are and what we've achieved so far. And I think the league should be proud as well. Because it can only help us, as a league going forward.
"I think it's important the players switch off, have a bit of time off and we'll try and win the playoff in February."
Bradley, who was this week linked to the vacant Millwall post, was serenaded by the away support after the game, who belted out Wham's 'Last Christmas' as the manager saluted the crowd.
"It's an incredible moment that we've shared together and something that we'll never forget"
"It's a massive thank you from me and the players and the staff to them. They've given us incredible support this year at home and away. Through the tough times, when we weren't performing domestically, they were there.
"They've travelled around Europe. A week before Christmas, 3,000 showed tonight. I'm sure you'll agree that you could hear them all night throughout the game.
"At the end, it's why we do it. You're looking in there (at the away end), you're seeing faces that you see every week in Tallaght.
"It's an incredible moment that we've shared together and something that we'll never forget.
"We wanted to perform a little better obviously but it's a proud moment for us.
"If you said to us in June, you'd be coming to Stamford Bridge with 11 points, you'd be in the playoff and you were coming to have a go at Chelsea, you would have taken the hand off. That's where we find ourselves.
"So, I'm incredibly proud to lead this group and this club out here tonight."
