‘FINISH THE JOB’
McClaren dismisses talk of second-string Boyz as Jamaica face T and T in Kingston
AFTER securing a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Trinidad and Tobago in their first of two international friendly matches on Thursday, Reggae Boyz Head Coach Steve McClaren is determined to see his team deliver another strong performance today at Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex at 8:00 pm.
Jamaica gave its fans something to celebrate with their win, and McClaren wants them to build on that momentum.
“We are pleased with the win on Thursday, and we gave Jamaica a smile at the end of the game,” he said. “I think the fans were all smiling, and their families were too. I have said to the players that, ‘Now we have to repeat it.’ We want to come back to Kingston, and we are expecting a good crowd. We want to entertain, perform well, and win the game.”
McClaren was firm in his belief that the squad assembled for these matches represents the best of Jamaican football. He dismissed any notion of the team being labelled as a ‘B’ or ‘C’ squad, reinforcing that every player called up is a key part of the Reggae Boyz set-up.
“We have said to the players, ‘This is a Jamaican Reggae Boyz team,’ “ he said. “This is not a B team, or a C team, or a local team — this is a proper team and this is seniors. We don’t play friendlies. Everybody wants to beat Jamaica, and I think Trinidad wants to beat us more than a lot of other nations.”
He is also urging his players to approach the second match with the same determination they displayed in the first, noting the importance of maintaining a strong mindset throughout the game.
“We have to go into the contest exactly like we did on Thursday — with a great attitude, stay in the game, stay stronger as the game goes on, and win the game,” he said.
McClaren also acknowledged the challenge of managing a 28-man squad but remains committed to giving as many players as possible opportunities to contribute.
“We are trying to include everybody and give people minutes, but it is difficult because we have 28 players,” he said. “But, we did it on Thursday. We changed nine or 10 players at regular intervals, and I think it worked. But everybody must be ready to make an impact — whether they start or come off the bench.”
