'Clever guy' Finn Azaz on his mentality challenge amid criticism after Ireland boss conversation
Ireland boss Heimir Hallgrimsson described Finn Azaz as a clever guy after giving the Middlesbrough star a key role in Ireland's Nations League win over Finland.
Ireland came from behind to beat Finland 2-1 in Helsinki, with Azaz starting the game despite missing out on the Icelandic head coach's first Ireland squad last month. Hallgrimsson admitted after that a big factor in that decision was the role he'd watch him play for Boro, and how he felt that could translate to helping the national team.
The Ireland boss said after: “He has been playing really well with Middlesbrough, in a role probably that we needed. He is the guy that can have the final pass, seeing the runs. We had some really good runs in behind against Greece at home but we didn’t see these runs and use them.
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"He’s a clever guy on the ball, that was the thought process to have a player a little bit deeper than Evan [Ferguson], to find these runs in these pockets. He’s a different kind (of player), we have a lot of runners and he is so good on the ball.
At his feet, he doesn’t need much time in the box to finish, and when he is 100 per cent fit, he will be lethal for us. To get close to 70 minutes is good for his confidence coming into the next game.”
Azaz still divides opinion among Boro fans, and when Tommy Conway returns to fitness, he could face a fight to retain his place in Michael Carrick's side as he still awaits his first goal of the season. He has two assists, both of which came from corners and were scored by Matt Clarke.
As far as his first start under the new Ireland boss was concerned, he helped them come from behind after boos from the travelling contingent at the interval. However, revealing the conversations he had with his new national team boss ahead of the game, Azaz discussed the mentality challenge he faces at both club and international level as he seeks to block 'outside noise' and focus on his performances.
“The manager isn’t treating me as a young player anymore,” Azaz said. “I am 24 now, so I need to take responsibility. He said he's seen me play at my club and in my position, albeit it's a different team and philosophy. He told me to show leadership and responsibility in terms of helping us be more creative, and on a personal front, I was just buzzing to start.
“My role was to try and help us create chances; get on the ball, use my movement and my passing. He's put trust in me as a player, putting me in positions. Then it's up to me to do the job for him. “I am going out there to do my job, that’s what I am trained to do, so I try to ignore the outside noise, we all try to do that. That’s how you have to be.
“We do hear criticism, but that’s part of the job. You need a strong mentality to ignore the noise, and hopefully, this win will help us gain even more confidence. We have a lot of belief.”
Ireland next travel to Greece on Sunday evening with the hosts on a high after beating England on Friday. But Boro star Azaz says Ireland will head to Piraeus with belief rather than feeling like the underdog.