Soccer360: Hi John. Thanks for joining us today.
John O’Shea: Thank you.
360: So how are you enjoying your North American Tour?
JOS: It’s a lot of fun. We’ve been doing this for several years now and it’s really special coming over to North America and travelling across the continent to play other teams and seeing the fans come out. (It’s) very enjoyable, if a little hectic.
360: How did you like Toronto?
JOS: Oh it was fun although we weren’t there for too long (Man U spent only 24 hours in Toronto, flying in from Chicago to play Celtic and then leaving for Philadelphia right after).
360: What’s it like playing at the Rogers Centre?
JOS: It’s very special, with the dome above the field and the (CN) tower right next door. (It’s) a very good atmosphere and I enjoy playing there. A very special experience.
360: Watching United beat Celtic 3-1, the team seemed to be playing well, this early in the preseason. Thoughts?
JOS: Well, obviously, we are nowhere near where that we would like to be and it’s early. Games like this are all about finding your feet, getting some chemistry going and eventually working yourself into match fitness. It was a good game for us though and especially for the younger lads, like Chris Smailing who had a strong game. But eventually we would want to get to a stage where we are all fit and ready for the new season and that’s going to take about seven to ten games.
360: Let’s talk a little about your footwear, the Concave PT+ Classics that you’ve been wearing for about a year. How do you like them?
JOS: Oh yeah, they’re great. It’s a very well made shoe that is very strong and versatile. It’s good for shooting and running and very solid when it comes to protecting your feet from opposing tackles. So say you’re on the ball and someone comes in studs up, it offers excellent support and cushioning from the impact.
360: So in a scrap in and around the box, it’s very good at keeping your feet intact from strong challenges?
JOS: Exactly, it’s got excellent all round structure and provides strength and support to both the arches and the toes.
360: What about shooting the ball, whether free kicks or in play?
JOS: It’s great for that, better at dead balls than on the run as the shoe allows you to strike the ball cleanly and the outside makes great contact with the ball.
360: So you could have shown all the big names a thing or two at the World Cup with the Jabulani then?
JOS: (Laughs) Cheers, yeah, definitely. Especially since, we came so close with Ireland, in making it to the World Cup. It was really disappointing to miss out but hopefully we can build on this as a team.
360: On that note, how do you feel about Ireland’s chances in qualifying for Euro 2012?
JOS: Positive. It’s going to be hard of course with Russia in the group. They’re a good team, very hard to beat at home and have been there before (Euro 2008). We’ll have to play well and try and get a point in Russia and win at home. And then there’s Slovakia, and we’ve seen what they are capable of at the World Cup.
360: But it’s a tasty looking group isn’t it?
JOS: Well, it’s going to be challenging but I think if we play well we can feel good about our chances. It’s hard predicting qualification this far ahead obviously, but we’ve put in some good work in the last qualifiers (for the 2010 World Cup). Plus, coach Giovanni Trappatoni has changed things around in the team, bringing in a few younger players and changing the way we play. We gave both the World Champions Italy, and France, good games both times round and only missed out by a whisker. More recently, in May, we played and beat both Algeria (3-0) and Paraguay (2-1), who were both at the World cup so I think we’re coming together.
360: Let’s talk about the new season with Manchester United, Is regaining the domestic title more of a priority than the Champions’ League?
JOS: At a big, successful club like Manchester United, we’re expected to challenge on all fronts. Both the Premiership and Champions’ League are obviously big targets, but yeah, I guess we’ll be looking to regain the domestic title and make up for the disappointment of last year in both the league and Europe.
360: There must be a lot of competition for spots in defence at United?
JOS: Yes. Plenty. It’s standard and there’s always competition, from new players, younger players coming through, especially with such a big squad. And at United we always have a lot of players so there’s competition for all positions.
360: And do you feel your versatility helps in that regard?
JOS: (chuckles) well a bit for sure. It helps knowing you can slot in a lot of places.
360: Were you always this versatile growing up?
JOS: Yeah, I was always versatile, comfortable playing anywhere. In my youth teams, however, I had more of a central role in things and only once I started playing professionally did I start playing more in defence.
360: What about your stint in goal versus Tottenham in the League in Feb 2007?
JOS: (chuckles) Oh yeah that was fun for sure. But to be fair we were already leading 4-0 so the pressure was off and I was able to help out without having to do too much. It was a one off really.
360: And that save from Robbie Keane, must have led to a fair bit of banter?
JOS: (laughs) Yeah, there was a fair bit of that. Especially since we were going to meet up with the Republic of Ireland squad for an international right after so even with those lads there was a bit of joking around and banter about that save.
360: Let’s talk about goals. So, Jan 2005 v Arsenal in the league, you chip Manuel Almunia from the edge of the area...
JOS: That was a great match for sure (sighs), that goal and winning the match 4-2. The boss had told me to just sit in midfield especially since (Mikael) Silvestre had been sent off. I think it was (Gabriel) Heinze who first worked the ball in on the flank and then passed it to (Louis) Saha who worked in (Paul) Scholes and I got it from him. I just decided to have a lob and it settled right in the net. I had tried that lob from the edge of the area a few times in training but never in a match, so it was exciting to see it work so well in a game.
360: Now it’s March 2007, Liverpool in the league at Anfield and you score a few minutes from the end...
JOS: Oh that was massive, for sure. Again we were a man down and so were under a lot of pressure in the later stages, when it just popped up near the goal mouth. But that goal really eased things up and we were able to win that game. It also gave us a lot of confidence and momentum in the league and we were able to ride that through to the title. Yeah, it was a special moment.
360: So did it matter much that you did not play in the winning 2008 Champions’ League Final?
JOS: Of course, definitely. You want to play all the big, classic, crucial matches and even though we won, I would have wanted to play that game and be on the pitch. It’s a bit disappointing to miss out on that game especially since the next year we lost to Barcelona in the final, even though I played that. And this year too...
360: With the narrow elimination to Bayern...
JOS: Yeah, exactly. Losing out like we did, in a very close, close game, makes it all the more disappointing. You hope to go further and reach the final and win again. Losing to Bayern was very galling, since it was on away goals, and they had late goals in both legs, with one right at the very end of the first match. So, yeah the focus is to put that behind us and have a long run again this year.
360: With regards to the Premiership, do you feel Manchester City and Tottenham have replaced Arsenal and Liverpool as United’s and Chelsea’s biggest challengers?
JOS: No, not really. I mean Spurs and City are obviously going to challenge and have good squads but Arsenal and Liverpool are going to as well, just as much. It’s going to be very tight at the top with all of us neck and neck. Then you also have Aston Villa and Everton who were just a few odd points behind and who can challenge us just as well. So it’s going to be interesting and I think there are many good teams in it this year.
360: And we’ll be seeing United right in the thick of things...
JOS: (laughs) Yes, hopefully.
360: One last question, do you see yourself at United for life?
JOS: it’s hard to say. I’ve been very lucky to be at such a big, successful club all my life and have played for them but at this stage I have to take it a year at a time. I have a season remaining on my contract, and we’ll see what happens next year. So yeah, I can’t say about the long term future but I am going to take it a season at a time.
360: Cheers, John, good luck to United this year, thanks for joining us today and hope you enjoy your tour.
JOS: Cheers, thank you.
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