PRESS CONFERENCE | Craig Harrison | FC Petrocub | Monday 12th August 2024 | UEFA Europa League

Craig there have been a a number of big games for the new Saints over the years but this is arguably the biggest in the club's history just 90 minutes away from a a league phase yeah it is it's where we've all worked for it's it's where we all want to be I remember speaking to Mike probably 18 months nearly two years ago regarding coming back to the football club as manager and um it was where where mate wanted to be where the club wanted to be where he felt investment was going to be in um and we we are here nearly two years later in in a 90 minute game away from from possibly getting to a group stage of European football which is not only I think is massive for for TNS I think it's it's big in massive for Welsh football you know we um we are we take pride in representing Wales for in European competition so we um we we obviously want do for our club first and foremost but I think the the prestige in the in in all other things that come along with possibly qualifying then then that would be great for Welsh domestic football as well we spoke on the pitch obviously last week out there in malova since then you've had the benefit of watching the game through again have you thoughts perhaps changeed somewhat from what you said in the immediate interview no not really not really looking back really encouraging you know I thought um I thought we got our shape perfectly well I thought we got the team perfectly well I thought the players done an unbelievable job you know if you look back back at it you know they they played APPA well in the previous round and there was only one goal in it it was 2-1 aget you know APPA well scored penalty and the scored a world class goal um so I think where we were it was credit to the players and credit to the staff of of our game plan and our preparation and and how we limited them to one shot a goal which ended up being a goal because it took a huge deflection so I think from that point of view um The Lads got it spot on the staff got it spot on and we just need to make sure now that we're not going to overestimate them sorry underestimate them should I say because they're they're are a good team if we if we set out tomorrow and underestimate them then you know we'll we'll be it be a long night for because they are a good team and and I don't think anyone give us not anyone but not as many people give us enough credit on the night how well the boys done on the pitch we know we like I said we limited them to to to Really limited amount of opportunities and that was the that was the hard work put in off the pitch by the staff and also more importantly the hard work put in on on the pitch by the players on the night so it will be a very very tough game again tomorrow night and when we did our prematch press conference last week you said that your desire was that we would still be in the tie come the 90 minutes and at just one mil down we are very much in that position as far as the players themselves are concerned have you had to do anything with them in terms of focus or do they pretty much know exactly what they have to do going into this game yeah I think they do you know and when when you going into the game away where we need it to be and what we needed to do like you said we've done our intense homework on them and we knew they were a good team you know we we've had the the firstand experience of playing Apple nicasia obviously we drew nil nil at home and got be 3-0 away so they've got be 2-1 on aggregate so that just proves where they are how good they are and um and like I said the players um in a really good place we're know we're know the game plan we know what we have to do um tomorrow night we know that we um we didn't underestimate them like a lot of people might think so you know and also as well reflective then you know that they've got to be a very good team to be Sheriff to win in the the league in Mondo because they're a they're a hugely dominant Force you know financially size of the club everything you know so so obviously Petra had a fantastic season got five or six full Internationals and they are a good team but The Lads know where we are the lads know where we need to be and um they're fully fully on board we had a really good training session today we had a a great one on Saturday you know Match Prep and and ready with the game plan and um at home we're very good at home you know last time we got beat at home was hacking you know and before that I don't know when it was so we um we've um done very well at home Paul Cole's always been a fortress for us and we want to make sure at the same tomorrow night you know we are prepared right but we're not we're not overconfident I think just um doing your preparation right gives you a boost and gives you a bit of confidence because the lads know what they're going in for and they know how they need to perform and in terms of the starting 11 as you say Craig that is pretty much the hardest part of the job especially with such a a big game coming up what kind of a head coach are you away from the public eye do you select your squad several days before select your starting 11 and stick with it or do you find yourself often tossing and turning at night perhaps and mulling over things and maybe making a few changes along the way until you make the public declaration yeah I think you probably have to be pretty cold and callous if you don't have any Sleepless nightes it's it's the worst bit of the job by a million males um but I think what I seen last week I had a had a two plans in my mind you know myself so speak about a regular um we speak about every day and we we've thought about this for probably a week or so and we thought that was um what we needed to do away as we spoke about and it it's May is a little bit different to what we need to do at home so we had um we've got we've got the the game plan in whether that personal changes or not is a different story obviously we'll have to wait till tomorrow night but the game plan certainly might be a little bit different but but yeah from from that point of view it's um yeah we The Lads know what the team is teams out there now we've done some team shape today so they they know who's playing who's not playing there obviously going to be some disappointed Lads amongst that but as I keep saying then you know you look at the last three European games arguably the subs have been as important if not more you know come on with 20 minutes half an hour left when when L Lads are put a real shift in it's it was the difference between us still being in the game going into tomorrow night's game and not because if you put them Lads on they don't do a job and the the team's tired you know they've run the socks off and and then they don't come on and do their job it ends up 2 three 4 nil last 20 minutes of a game and um and they didn't they come on and they give give her something extra and they give her you know they played their part hugely so it'll be exactly the same tomorrow night um who knows what'll happen you know we don't really want to go extra time in penalties but there's always that agenda you know there there as well so so substitutes and and play as focus and minds and is going to have to be 100% on it because like I said you know it could go to P extra time in penalties if that is the case then Subs would be more important than what they have been over the 90 minutes and as you went for that final selection what was the injury situation like because obviously there are one or two players on the the fringes of that did you have a a full Squad as such to choose from yeah know Josh pasque was Josh Pas a couple of days earlier tweaked his media ligament but he's been back in training again so Josh will be available again so if anything would strengthen the squad obviously um Josh played the first three games um of Europe Des homman away and fence Faris away so he's obviously been an integral part of the the team you know but PAs will be available again um Back available for the squad tomorrow Craig as always thank you for your time and with such a a special game on the horizon everyone at the new Saints wishes you Chris Sergeant the staff and of course the players all the very best tomorrow evening thank you very much rev thank you