Northern Ireland defender Jonny Evans insists the squad are determined to deliver for manager Michael O’Neill in their upcoming qualifying campaign for the 2018 World Cup.
The West Bromwich Albion centre-back has admitted that several members of the squad were surprised to see O’Neill stay following his side’s exploits at Euro 2016.
The Green and White Army reached the knockout stages of the European Championships before being knocked out by Wales in the last-16 in France.
O’Neill was linked with both Hull and Celtic over the summer but the 47-year-old decided to remain with the Northern Ireland team ahead of another qualifying campaign.
Evans is expected to line up against the Czech Republic on Sunday night and he insists the team are 100 percent ready thanks to O’Neill’s meticulous preparation.
He told Sky Sports: “We are all really fond of the manager, we would all like to see him being given that chance to go and prove himself at club level.
I don’t think we’d hold it against him if he did move on and manage a club.
“We’re really grateful as players that we have him for this campaign because we know the hunger he has and it really has a big impact on us as a team and individuals.
I spoke to Michael a week or two after the Euros and he was studying the Czechs and getting ready for this game.
“That really struck me that we have a manager who has probably reached the pinnacle of his career, yet within a week he had already moved on.
“He’s a big thinker; he’s not all blood and sweat. He has a brain. When you analyse what he says, it all makes sense.”
Czech Republic are priced at 1.73 to win, with the draw at 3.40, while O’Neill’s side can be backed at odds of 5.50 with Dafabet.
Leave a comment
Link Dafabet