EUROPA LEAGUE: Manager friendships set aside as Coleraine take on Motherwell
By Aaron O'Neill
TWO of Northern Ireland’s brightest managers are set to lock horns later this evening when Coleraine host Motherwell at The Showgrounds.
The sides are set to clash in the second qualifying round of the Europa League in a few hours time and familiar foes will face off once again as Oran Kearney prepares to face Stephen Robinson who was in the running for the recent Northern Ireland job.
It will be the first time the pair have faced off since Kearney’s time in charge of St. Mirren during the 2018/19 season. That year, Robinson enjoyed the bragging rights as his Motherwell side clinched seven points from a possible 12 against St Mirren.
Speaking ahead of tonight’s clash, Motherwell boss Stephen Robinson recognises the seismic challenge which awaits his side when they visit the Ballycastle Road.
“It will be a tough game we never underestimated Glentoran either as they had a lot of players that I worked with,” says the Lisburn man.
“We are well aware of the threats Coleraine have some experienced boys that have been there and done it and been around the block.
“They will have good game knowledge so we will have to be very much up for it and we will have to take our game to Coleraine.
“We will be favourites to win the game and we will have a lot of the ball but we will need to have an end product,” he adds.
Meanwhile in the Coleraine camp, Oran Kearney insists that his squad will need to put in maximum effort if they are to progress any further in the Europa League adding that his friendship with Stephen Robinson will be set to one side this evening.
"I get on great with Stephen, so it's an interesting tie from that point of view,” admits Kearney.
"All the Northern Ireland managers were very good to me when I was in Scotland. Stephen in particular was brilliant and we still have a really good friendship till this day.
"I'm indebted to him for the help and the words he had for me and I'm sure we'll remain friends for a long time.
“It's the same in our own league all the managers have friendship and respect, but the minute the ball goes over the line we all fight our own corner for that period of time.
"Tomorrow night will be no different. There's a big mutual respect there, but as a club we're in uncharted territory and we've made progress and the last couple of weeks have given everyone a real taste for it,” explains Kearney.
A win for either side would set up an away clash with Israeli outfit Hapoel Beer-Sheva or KF Laci from Albania in seven days time.