In this video
- Asked about the France game, the Northern Ireland player said it was really difficult but will help a lot for the future. Northern Ireland lost 3-1, but he thought they were really good in parts.
- Asked about playing behind closed doors, the player said he does not think there will be much atmosphere. The players will have to bring their own, and hopefully it plays to their advantage.
- Asked what lessons were learned from earlier games without fans, O'Neill said it is not about lessons. Everyone wants a crowd, but he thinks it is harder for the home team than the away team.
- Asked about Georgia's standout player, O'Neill said they have many good players and are probably four to five years ahead of where his side were. Their world-class player needs special attention.
- Asked how much the group has come on, O'Neill said a number of players moved to bigger clubs in the summer. The team that played France averaged 22, and he still thinks it is not near its peak.
- Asked about the group and using two squads, O'Neill said Hungary are possibly the strongest on paper, but he thinks his side believe they can compete. He lacks the players for two squads.
- Asked how close Northern Ireland are to qualifying, O'Neill said there are so many factors, such as availability and the draw. As a small nation, he doesn't think you can say you are ready.
“…my contract status is irrelevant in that to be honest.”
Michael O’Neill believes Khvicha Kvaratskhelia was probably the best player across last season’s Champions League, describing the Georgia and Paris Saint-Germain attacker as a world-class talent capable of deciding a match in a moment.
Speaking ahead of Northern Ireland’s UEFA Nations League meeting with Georgia in Tbilisi, O’Neill explained why Kvaratskhelia would require special attention from his side. The Northern Ireland manager also stressed that Georgia possess quality throughout their team and should not be viewed as a one-player side.
O’Neill pointed to Northern Ireland’s recent experience against elite attacking talent, including Kylian Mbappe, Michael Olise and Ousmane Dembele against France, as preparation for dealing with players of Kvaratskhelia’s level.
The fixture marked Northern Ireland’s return to Nations League B following promotion from League C, with O’Neill viewing matches at this level as an important test for his young squad. He also discussed Georgia’s development, Northern Ireland’s emerging players and the challenge of building towards qualification for Euro 2028.
