FC Hegelmann held their first training session yesterday evening at Richmond Park in Dublin ahead of tonight’s UEFA Europa Conference league First Qualifying Round fixture against St. Patrick’s Athletic FC.
Head coach Andrius Skerla shared his thoughts on the team’s preparations and the importance of the upcoming international encounter.
Coach, you’ve arrived in Dublin and are preparing for your first training session. Is everything going according to plan?
Yes, everything is going as planned. The hotel is great, preparations are on track, and we’ve had a few team meetings already. The mood is positive. I have good memories of this stadium, I remember playing here during the last years of my career with Žalgiris Vilnius. I believe we won 2-1 back then. Not much seems to have changed since – same stands, same dressing rooms. It feels like time has stood still.
What’s the mood like in the squad? Is there a sense of focus or perhaps nervousness before such an important match?
It’s only natural, this isn’t just another game. It’s an international one. We don’t have a lot of experience at this level, but we’ve prepared as much as possible. After our recent match against FA Šiauliai, we’ve got a bit more optimism, it was a good game. The team is in good spirits heading into this encounter.
You and your coaching staff have no doubt spent a lot of time analyzing your opponents. What can you tell fans who might be hearing about St. Patrick’s Athletic FC for the first time?
I’ve watched three or four of their recent matches and read quite a bit about them. Before the start of the season, they were among the favorites in their league, but injuries have disrupted their rhythm. There’s a lack of consistency. They don’t score a lot of goals, but they’re also solid at the back. They’ve got quality attacking players, even if they haven’t quite found their form yet. Of course, that doesn’t make it any easier for us, these are international matches, and both sides will be hungry to progress. It’s going to be a tough challenge.
In terms of the psychological preparation, how do you ensure the players stay focused and confident under pressure in such high-stakes matches?
Honestly, the preparation process doesn’t differ too much whether it’s an A Lyga fixture or a European one. You analyze the opponent, look for weaknesses and strengths, and explore how to exploit those. I think we’ve done a solid job of analyzing both their team play and individual players. The squad understands this is a rare chance to make an impression. Perform well, and doors can open, opportunities abroad may arise.
Finally, we expect to see many local Lithuanians in the stands tonight. How important is fan support in an away fixture like this?
I actually ran into an old classmate here recently. We met back in 2013 when we played here. From what I’ve heard, quite a few Lithuanians living in Dublin are planning to come and support us. Fan support is always crucial, especially away from home. We’re really hoping they’ll show up and cheer us on.
FC Hegelmann vs. St. Patrick’s Athletic FC kicks off tonight at Richmond Park, 21:45 Lithuanian time. A crucial first step in the UEFA Conference league journey awaits.
Source: https://fchegelmann.com/andriaus-skerlos-mintys-apie-busima-dvikova-richmond-park-stadione/
