Martin O’Neill delivered one of the funniest press conferences of all time ahead of Ireland’s friendly with England on Sunday.
Speaking with the media at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Dublin airport, the Republic boss was at his witty best as he toyed with the press from both sides of the Irish Sea and he even managed to leave poor John O’Shea sweating as well.
The Derry man was in fine form as he side-stepped questions of FIFA, his own future and some of his players’ comments about the FAI in hilarious fashion.
O’Neill was grilled by the national media of both islands given the week that has just passed but he maintained his cool and came out unblemished.
First off, the manager was questioned about Jon Walters’ tweet which seemed to make light of FIFA/FAI/Delaney gate.
Meal in Howth with the boys. What a view! The waiter was happy with the €5,000,000 tip 💶😳 pic.twitter.com/HfDlhIiGKJ
— Jonathan Walters (@JonWalters19) June 5, 2015
When he was told about the comment, he looked puzzled and turned to John O’Shea on his left. O’Shea, of course, was coy and quick to pass the buck back to the press, as if he had no idea what had happened either.
“I wouldn’t mind being in that restaurant right now,” O’Neill spoke of the five million tip. “The players went out because they were bored of my company. They wanted to head out and they went to an apparently very nice restaurant – well, if they got a five million pound tip, well done to them. They should be closing tomorrow and opening up in Spain.”
O’Neill was questioned about the difficulties Ireland face with qualifying – you know, because they have a smaller population than England and all that.
“I think we could’ve chosen an easier group,” the manager said. “And maybe there’s time to do that… That was supposed to be a joke. Okay, I’ll go again.” And he did.
So attention turned to O’Shea who was asked about Ray Domenech, the former French manager’s comments who suggested that the players should’ve gotten the money.
“You probably totally agree…” a straight-faced O’Neill interrupted. “Perhaps they would’ve took it to that little restaurant last night, they would’ve doubled their money.”
The Sunderland player was then asked though about his international manager’s future, whether or not O’Neill will be with Ireland in the long term and, once again, Martin spoke up. Just as a gentle reminder to O’Shea.
“Don’t answer that. Don’t even go there,” he pointed at his stand-in captain for tomorrow’s friendly. “No comment. Don’t go there. It’s not the time to ask that when he’s in front of me…”
You’d probably think, fair enough. And then he adds:
“Because he may well give an answer that I do not like.”
O’Neill then jumped on a comment about his success with Nottingham Forest – the rest is history. He butted in on the question and spoke over the rest of it as he dictated where the query was going.
“Do you want me to talk about it? I played really well in the game,” he spoke over the rest of the question. “Even Brian Clough said I was brilliant, he said I eclipsed John Robertson. Do you want me to – I’ll start in the morning… the best part was when he took me aside and said, ‘who should I pick for the other 10, Martin?’”
Anyway, what we were asking, Martin. Do you –
“I haven’t finished – so the afternoon…”
Wes Hoolahan missed training today because of a family bereavement but Stephen Ward came through okay after sustaning an ankle injury in the Northern Ireland game on Thursday. Jon Walters was also a doubt for Sunday be he did a “little bit” with the team in Malahide.
