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.
