PEARL SLATTERY has spent the last 48 hours assessing the opposition – but she won’t know how Shelbourne stacks up until later today.
Shels will go into action in the Women’s Champions League this afternoon in Slovenia against ZNK Pomurje with high hopes of a long run.
Like its male counterpart, the Women’s Champions League is built around autumn pools with super clubs.
But the format in earlier rounds is different, with Shels in a four-team knockout section now looking to secure a play-off to reach the group stage.
At 4:30 p.m. today, they will face the champions of Slovenia in Murska Sobota with the objective of reaching the final against the Icelandic Valur or the Armenian Hayasa.
A defeat would mean a barrage for third place but also the end of the road in Europe.
But, on paper, Shels appears to be in a good position. While UEFA ranks the Icelandic league in tenth place, the National Women’s League is ranked above the Slovenian league – 33rd against 34th.
Not that Slattery, 33, is paying attention to the UEFA rankings as she prepares for a game she’s sure will be of a higher quality than what Shels will face every Saturday at home.
Research was carried out, videos viewed and meetings held with gaffer Noel King – but Slattery also took a closer look at some of the key opposition players, with the teams staying in the same hotel.
Shels arrived on Tuesday and that meant plenty of time for further research.
Slattery told SunSport: “You see the other teams and you all look at each other to get your bearings.
“When you look at the draw, it could have been much worse. You look at the team we are up against and you would think you can go and compete. That’s all you want, a chance.
“The Icelandic team will be strong but we have confidence in ourselves.
“But it’s also a bit of a step into the unknown – not in the sense that we don’t know the players or their tendencies, but my experience in Europe is that you can do as much video analysis as you want but nothing will prepare you for when it actually kicks off.
EUROPEAN TRAVEL
Slattery is one of the most experienced players in the WNL in Europe, this is his fourth campaign after two with Raheny and then a third when that club merged with Shelbourne.
She points to Raheny’s run to the last 32 in 2014 as her highlight.
She added: “I am delighted to experience it with everyone for the first time because I always think back to my Raheny time and they are some of my fondest memories.
“Weeks like this are going to be huge for us as a group in terms of closeness, togetherness, having this experience together as staff.
“I think the time we went to Romania with Raheny there were a lot of teams ranked above us, we were probably third or fourth. watched these teams and we knew we could compete and we actually won the group.
Still, she remembers those first moments on the pitch against Cluj as a revelation, which is why she’s wary of what Pomurje might produce.
Slattery said: “That first game we barely touched the ball but we actually won 2-1. We got broken two or three times and we scored. It was one of those games where we were like, ‘How did we win this?’ But we won the group and then faced Bristol City.
OUTSIDE THEIR SHELTER
Along with Peamount’s run to face PSG ten years ago, this is the high point for WNL clubs in Europe.
But Slattery insisted there was no reason Shels couldn’t start again now.
She added: “The league was well represented. I remember watching Peamount v Glasgow City a few years ago and they were unlucky.
“And we know we have quality in the league, so why not?
“But we’re not going to overextend ourselves. From the experiences I’ve had, I know how tough all of these matches can be.
“Our goal is to do well. We believe in ourselves, in our individuals and in the way we play. It’s a step forward, but it’s a step forward that we are capable of taking. »