UDINESE MANAGER ANDREA Sottil reserved phrases of reward for Irish U21 worldwide Festy Ebosele after the defender’s full Serie A debut on Saturday.
Ebosele made his first begin since becoming a member of the membership from Derby County final summer season in Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Atalanta, having made six prior appearances off the bench.
He performed 81 minutes at proper wing-back as Udinese grew to become solely the fifth group this season to maintain a clean-sheet in opposition to free-scoring Atalanta, who notably hit Salernitana for eight at the beginning of the 12 months.
“It’s a giant level, initially for the league desk but additionally due to the standard of the opposition we confronted as we speak,” stated Udinese boss Sottil.
“The group confirmed an important sense of accountability after the final recreation. Credit score to the lads for his or her focus and need to not concede. We defended fantastically as a group and created conditions going ahead too. Now we should keep this perspective and do not forget that each ball is vital in Serie A.
“Festy [Ebosele] did rather well. It’s in no way straightforward to make your full debut in Bergamo. We all know how troublesome, intense and bodily Serie A is. He held his place nicely, had some good moments and can solely get higher. I’m certain he’ll be an important participant for Udinese’s future.”
The purpose lifts Udinese to ninth – three factors behind Juventus – and additional stalls a refreshed Atalanta’s Champions League problem: they’re now sixth, 5 factors off fourth-placed Roma.
Ebosele has been beforehand referred to as as much as Stephen Kenny’s senior Irish squad, although has but to make his debut. First selection within the Irish pecking order at proper wing-back is Matt Doherty, who lastly made his debut for Atletico Madrid within the closing minutes of the 6-1 hammering of Sevilla on Saturday.
First-choice right-back Nahuel Molina was suspended for the sport, however in his absence supervisor Diego Simeone determined to change to a again three and play Marcos Llorente at proper wing-back, earlier than introducing Doherty for the ultimate 12 minutes.
That Doherty performed so little within the temporary absence of his direct rival is a priority as to how a lot gametime he’ll clock forward of Eire’s Euro 2024 qualifier at house to France on the finish of this month.
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“Matt’s scenario was very uncommon”, Kenny stated this week. “The sturdy health routine at Spurs suited him. He wants that. While you’re given the chance of becoming a member of Atletico, you grasp it. Matt wants video games and we hope he will get video games, as a result of he has been superb for us and he is a crucial participant.”
In making his temporary look, Doherty made historical past in turning into the primary Irishman to pay for Atletico Madrid.
That he did so hours after Ebosele made an look for Udinese meant that Irish gamers appeared in La Liga and Serie A on the identical day for the primary time since February 1987, when Liam Liam Brady began for Ascoli in opposition to Empoli and Liam Buckley got here off the bench for Racing Santander in opposition to Valladolid.
3️⃣6️⃣ At this time is the primary time in 36 years that an @FAIreland participant has appeared in each Serie A and La Liga on the identical day, since Liam Brady began for Ascoli in opposition to Empoli and Liam Buckley got here off the bench for Racing Santander in opposition to Valladolid on Sunday, 1st February 1987
— Irish Overseas (@irish_abroad) March 4, 2023
