Jamaica’s Demarai Gray dribbles during the Concacaf Nations League match against Nicaragua at Estadio Nacional de Futbol in Managua on Thursday. Photo: JFF
Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz celebrate scoring against Nicaragua during the Concacaf Nations League match at Estadio Nacional de Futbol in Managua on Thursday. (JFF)
“I thought it was a professional performance. Obviously coming into a tough environment we knew what was at stake, obviously, with the points. We just wanted to come out here and get a positive result — knowing we have another game at home in a couple days against Honduras — so it wasn’t our best performance, but we got the three points and that’s all that matters.”
McClaren also believes the players deserve credit for overcoming challenges with the playing surface and the officiating.
“I thought it was a difficult game to referee because I think the surface causes a lot of small fouls, accidental fouls that look worse than they possible are. I didn’t think we got the fair share of the decisions but, we had to live with that,” he said.
“It’s one of the things we said before the game: The players’ and coach’s emotional control was important, and we demonstrated — I think in the second half — tremendous emotional control despite the tournament, the field, everything. The spirit of the team was good,” he said.
The team arrived at Norman Manley International Airport on Friday and is scheduled to train on Sunday.
The Reggae Boyz only need a draw against Honduras on Monday at the National Stadium to secure their spot in the quarter-finals of the Nations League A in November.
However, a defeat could prove costly as Honduras would overtake them for the top spot in nine points; and Nicaragua, on four points, could also take the second automatic spot with victory over French Guiana on Monday.
MCCLAREN… it wasn’t our best performance, but we got the three points and that’s all that matters (Photo: Garfield Robinson)
Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz huddle ahead of action against Nicaragua in the Concacaf Nations League at Estadio Nacional de Futbol in Managua on Thursday. (Photo: JFF)
Jamaica’s Tayvon Gray (left) and Nicaragua’s Oscar Acevedo vie for the ball during the Concacaf Nations League match at Estadio Nacional de Futbol in Managua on Thursday. (Photo: JFF)
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Publish date : 2024-10-12 02:10:00
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