Ireland captain Seamus Coleman was asked about the potential abuse that former Ireland players Jack Grealish and Declan Rice could receive at the Aviva Stadium this weekend and claimed it wasn't something that interested him.
Ireland and England face each other in the opening game of the Nations League this weekend, and the tie carries a number of interesting narratives for historical and social reasons. One such narrative is the return of both Jack Grealish and Declan Rice to Dublin.
Both players represented Ireland at the youth level, and Rice even played for the senior team, but they ultimately chose to declare for their country of birth, England.
Coleman was asked for his opinion on the pair returning to Dublin and said that the decision to represent England or Ireland is always up to the players in question.
“Do they deserve it? I think that's a leading question for me to give you a headline," he said to reporters this week.
"Listen, they chose who they wanted to represent. I've said it for long enough: whatever they feel they are, that's what they chose to be.
“I know Declan came and played three games—I can only speak of Declan as a person. He's a good guy, a top player, as everyone knows.
"But I just want lads that want to represent Ireland, and we've got that. We're eager to do well.
“Those lads have gone their own way, and what reception they get, I don't know. But it's been a few years now, so it's not something that concerns me anymore."
🗣️ 'I just want lads that want to represent Ireland, and we've got that!'
Seamus Coleman discusses what sort of reception Declan Rice and Jack Grealish will get in the Aviva tomorrow. | 🏴
Off The Ball Football w/ @WilliamHillIre. pic.twitter.com/SQQAYI8SKL— Off The Ball (@offtheball) September 6, 2024
The game also represents a chance for new manager Heimir Hallgrímsson to assess the Ireland team in a competitive fixture. Coleman admits that the Ireland players are keen to do their best under their new manager.
"The new manager? Yeah, it’s been good," said the 35-year-old. "A lot of new information for us, but you can tell by the man sitting beside me, first and foremost, he's a good man, and he wants to do well for the national team.
"He’s come into a good group of lads who are desperate to do well for Ireland as well. So we’re all looking forward to it.
"We’ve all been working hard; we’ve all been taking in as much as we can, and we wish him all the best with the journey ahead."
