Stephen Bradley spoke to shamrockrovers.ie ahead of Thursday’s UEFA Conference League tie in Athens

The match kicks off at 1745 Irish time, with TV coverage on Premier Sports

Despite a final day 2-1 defeat to Sligo, nothing was dampening a party atmosphere in Tallaght Stadium as Pico Lopes lifted our fifth league title trophy in six seasons. It’s an incredible effort by everyone this season.

“Yes it is. It’s special to do five titles in six years and the manner in which we’ve done it for large parts of the season. The players have been really high level in the league, which is all credit to them. It was a great day in Tallaght Stadium last Saturday for everyone involved. So it was a special occasion and is why we work so hard.”

How disappointed was everyone this time last season when our win over Waterford in the last home game was met with silence when we knew Shelbourne had won in Derry and was there a resolve there and then to regain the title this year?

“We actually decided weeks before that Waterford game. I remember we decided that regardless of what happened, what we needed to do to improve and do better and how we would fight this year. So that planning was done well before the last league game. It obviously hurt that night (when Shelbourne won the title), it’s one that sticks with you and will always stick with you. But you have to learn to move on and try and rectify it. The players have gone and done that this year. As I’ve said so many times this year, they deserve incredible credit to show the character they have shown to bounce back this year. It’s been top class.”

We had a tricky start to this season in terms of early results. Was that half-expected due to practically no pre-season and was it difficult to maintain calm among the group after that difficult start that we’d be ok?

“It wasn’t difficult to remain calm. It’s how we operate and we don’t get too high or too low. So that part wasn’t in any way difficult. For us as a group and especially the staff, our aim was to stay in the fight early on, that’s all it was. We had seventeen days training in pre-season and one game. So I felt if we came through the first round of games and were in the fight, that we were in a brilliant position. After that first round of games, I knew it would take a really good team to try and beat us this year. I just felt that everyone was in the right place, everything was going in the right direction and we were together. When you combine that with the ability, I knew it would be difficult for others to beat us. So we were really happy where we were after that first round of games.”

While everyone rightly celebrated on Saturday night, there’s always the next challenge looming and they don’t come much tougher than an away game in the UEFA Conference League against AEK Athens. How much is everyone looking forward to the game?

“These are brilliant nights, it’s why you want to do so well domestically by winning leagues. It gives you opportunities to go and play teams like AEK and others. When everyone else is winding down, we’re getting ready for a European game in Athens and a cup final on Sunday week. That’s what this club is about, it’s what the players are about. So it’s brilliant. We enjoyed Saturday night, but then our focus has to shift to Thursday and Sunday week. But we’re well used to that and we’ll be ready. This is what you want, win a league on Saturday, get ready for a massive European game on Thursday and then roll into the cup final on Sunday week so it’s exactly what you would want.”

So far in the UEFA Conference League phase, AEK have lost 3-1 to Celje, who we know well and then beat Aberdeen 6-0 two weeks ago. What did you make of their performances and what can we expect from AEK in terms of set-up and style and stadium atmosphere? 

“You can tell they’re a really good team, that’s quite clear. They lost to Celje but then put six past Aberdeen and possibly could’ve been more to be honest. They’ve got real quality but we’ve shown a number of times throughout the years that when we’re at our levels, we’re a match for anyone. But we know we have to be right at it on Thursday, as we’re playing against a really good team at their home in what will be an intimidating atmosphere. They get big crowds, but it’s something we’re used to and it’s a great challenge to meet head-on and we’re looking forward to it.”

It was great to get Danny Grant back in action against Sligo. Did he come out ok from that and what’s the latest on Danny Mandroiu, Josh Honohan and Aaron Greene? 

“It was brilliant to get Danny Grant back on the pitch on Saturday. We’d been aiming for that game to get him some minutes and he’ll get more minutes on Thursday. Danny has been such an important player for us this year. He’s given us so much, on and off the pitch and has been brilliant so it’s great he’s back. Danny Mandroiu and Josh should be involved on Thursday, but Aaron Greene is still struggling.”