3 weeks ago
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JAMAICA GO into their Concacaf Nations League League A, Group B match in a top-of-the-table clash against Honduras at the National Stadium, at 8 p.m. tonight, knowing a win against their opponents, who sit a point adrift, will seal their place in the last four.
Reggae Boyz coach Steve McClaren is calling on his team to complete the job and cement their semi-final berth.
He also wants the fans to come out and give the players the boost they need to see off their Central American challengers.
“One of our goals. The vision I have is to fill the stadium. To have a full house and have it rocking. With the music and everything happening around the game, it (home support) is very different from Nicaragua, it’s very different from Honduras, but just as intimidating,” he said.
However, more than just intimidate, McClaren wants the fans to give the players the urge to deliver the victory.
“But it’s not really about intimidating, but uplifting the home players. That’s what a home advantage is. To lift you above the opponent. To give you extra 10, 20 per cent to deliver the result. So we need the fans.
“The worst thing in COVID, no fans, killed the game. Fans came back, it reignited the game, and that is what we want the supporters to do.”
On the field, McClaren wants the Reggae Boyz to press home their advantage at the top of the group and secure top spot.
“We started with a disappointing draw, which we should win, but we put ourselves in a position to finish top of the group. So finish the job. That’s the message to the players, to finish the job. We need to win the game, and for me, that is most important.
“We are playing at home, playing in front of supporters, so we are playing for them, not to entertain, but to perform standards, have a good game and win,” he stated.
Although expecting a competitive game, McClaren is looking to specialist players such as Demarai Gray and Tyreek Magee to inspire the result they seek.
“I am looking at a year ago when I got the job with Jamaica. The first game I looked at was the Honduras game. Wasn’t a good game to look at I think. But there was one bit of quality in the game, (Gray’s goal), and I am looking for the same tomorrow,” he stated.
“He (Magee) didn’t do too bad on the right (last match). He was okay. He is a player who is a specialist player, and they win you football matches.
“We expect them (specialists) to win the football match tomorrow (today). Tyreek’s another one. They are special, and that’s what I saw from Tyreek from the clips when I first saw him.
“He could deal with the ball, handle the ball. He was creative. He kept it. The three things I said right at the beginning. He is the kind of player we are looking for. Players who can handle the ball, deal with the ball and be brave to do it in a hostile atmosphere. He came out with a big plus.”
Despite some players nursing niggles, McClaren said he would have a full squad to choose from.
“We got a reaction from Antonio just in training. We got reactions from a few players. Ice on the shins, sore backs. But the medical team has done a great job. They got the stiffness out, and we should have a full squad.”
English (US) ·