Matjaž Kek ‘read’ Northern Ireland and deliberately attacked them: the Selector knew he was playing with fire, but proved he was right in the end

Published on 7. September 2023 21. September 2023

Before arriving in Ljubljana, Northern Ireland qualified for the Euro 2024 in the UEFA EURO 2024 qualifying campaign. Slovenia hit the net four times in Stožice. But you are wrong if you think that such a match just happened. Just like that. That it was one of those nights when all tactical plans go out the window, when the pitch goes wild and then goals just rain down. No. Not so this time. Matjaž Kek set a tactical trap for Northern Ireland, which he eventually caught them in. He took a conscious risk; he also knew that Slovenia would suffer as a result. But he saw this as the best possible path to victory. He was right. Matjaž Kek ‘read’ Northern Ireland and deliberately attacked them. And beat it.

“I am happy and satisfied that we won this match. I can say that we deserved to win,” after the fifth game in Group H Matjaž Kek said and continued.We decided before the game to attack their back line. We have made the starting 11 accordingly. We were aware of the risk, and I knew that there would be more mistakes, that we would be too few in number in the line at times. The playfulness of the attack was overshadowed at times by delays in the middle and behind, but I repeat: this was a fully conscious offensive.”

Matjaž Kek: “From a coaching point of view, I’m not the happiest”

The above-mentioned fact about the number of goals scored by Northern Ireland would have led many to say that the Islanders are obviously very solid at the back, but Matjaž Kek came to a different conclusion when analysing the opponent. “The back line is their big problem. Even though they did lose all their games 0:1, I saw it and noticed it. That is why I am also pleased that our plan has succeeded, because we were right,“, Matjaž Kek did not hide his satisfaction, but he did stress later on that he did not like the kind of football Slovenia played this time too much.

“It went up and down. I’m happy because the boys confirmed that Slovenia can play spectacularly and score a lot of goals. But from a coaching point of view, I am not very happy. I like order, determination. But the quality we have in attack requires adaptation. Sometimes you hit something, of course, and sometimes you don’t. I am happy that the players have accepted my idea of a more risky game than probably many would have expected from us. In the end, we succeeded. We gave up four goals to our rival. That’s why there is satisfaction and joy in the dressing room,“, said the expert from Maribor, adding in the same breath.Of course, the potential we have in attack must also be supported by tactical discipline, timely interventions and better play at the back. This time there were a few moments when we were ‘hanging on’ too much. The reactions of the players in defence and midfield should be better. Looking towards our goal, we have a lot of room for improvement. We will have to be better in this segment of the game if we want to think about the high level of European football.”