Dundalk v AZ Alkmaar preview: Stephen Kenny expects 'epic' clash
Wednesday 7 December 2016 20:09, UK
Dundalk boss Stephen Kenny is predicting an "epic" battle against AZ Alkmaar which could put the Irish minnows on the brink of a seismic upset in the Europa League.
The League of Ireland side are the lowest ranked team in the tournament, but are firmly in contention for a place in the last 32 ahead of their penultimate Group D game on Thursday night (kick-off 8.05pm).
They are hoping a home crowd in Dublin's Tallaght Stadium, where they have already beaten Maccabi Tel Aviv and only narrowly lost to Zenit St Petersburg, will spur them on to another famous result.
Kenny says that if they can get through to the knockout stages, Dundalk's trajectory will eclipse even that of shock Premier League title winners Leicester, who have now won their Champions League group.
"I think what we are achieving is on a much greater scale," the Lilywhites boss said in a pre-match press conference at Tallaght.
"From our point of view, no one gave us a chance of getting a point in the group.
"We still have a lot to do to get through... but this is a journey where we've come from nowhere and we understand where we have come from - we have nothing.
"We've come from the bottom of our own league to win three in a row and now to be on the verge of qualifying for the last 32. We are very determined to achieve that."
"No one gave us a chance of getting a point in the group...this is a journey where we've come from nowhere and we understand where we have come from - we have nothing."
Dundalk lie in second place in the group, level on four points with Maccabi, whom they face in Israel in two weeks' time, and two points clear of AZ. Whatever the result against AZ, their hopes will go down to the final matchday.
But numerous injuries are threatening to undermine Dundalk's progress. The Irish champions' punishing 50-match season has taken its toll on the players.
It has made Kenny's job all the more difficult as he fights to man-manage each player individually on whether they need rest, rehabilitation or more training.
Current concerns include midfielders Ronan Finn and Chris Shields, who have been dogged by persistent groin injuries.
Another midfielder Stephen O'Donnell has been hit with hamstring and calf injuries. Winger Darren Meenan, who signed for Shamrock Rovers during the week, will not be in the squad.
On the plus side, defender Dane Massey and midfielder Robbie Benson have both recovered and look fit for the crunch tie.
"I think it is going to be an epic game," said Kenny. "We will have a big test, but I believe in the players that we have got. There is tremendous spirit in the team and a fair degree of technical ability as well."
"A draw could very well be a very good result for us. That is what the maths tells us, depending on the results elsewhere.
"But we will go to try and win the game as we do, but a draw could be a very good result."
