Zenit St.Petersburg vs Dundalk - Stephen Kenny excited by European run - 7M sport

Zenit St.Petersburg vs Dundalk - Stephen Kenny excited by European run



Posted Thursday, November 03, 2016 by PA

Dundalk could help finance a new stadium from their remarkable run in European football, according to manager Stephen Kenny.

The newly-crowned League of Ireland champions include an electrician and an architect among their ranks as they face off in the snows of Russia against the former UEFA Cup winners Zenit St Petersburg.

The Baltic side boast 17 internationals following expansive support from giant energy company Gazprom and will pose Dundalk's sternest test yet in Thursday night's Europa League Group D clash.

But the Lilywhites' Daryl Horgan and Andy Boyle were on Wednesday called into the Republic of Ireland squad to face Austria in a World Cup qualifier.

Kenny said it was an exciting time for the team as they prepared to face glittering and cosmopolitan opposition.

"I do think that now that we are here and have to come to St Petersburg and it is heavy snow, that is part of the attraction - that is quite exciting for us," he said.

"This is a new experience for a lot of the players and it is to be embraced and encouraged."

They will play at Zenit's ageing stadium on the Petrovsky Island in the centre of Russia's westernmost city.

It follows a pan-European odyssey through the early stages of the Champions League and the Europa League.

The Lilywhites are in second place in Group D, trailing their hosts who kept a 100 per cent record by bouncing back from 1-0 behind to win 2-1 in Dublin last month.

Kenny added that his players were in good physical shape, despite playing 53 matches in 36 weeks and face tough conditions on Thursday, although they will be without three players due to injury with Shane Grimes, Danny Meenan and Robbie Benson all missing.

Mircea Lucescu will not be taking Dundalk lightly.

The Russians' veteran Romanian coach said their opponents were strong and well-organised and had already shown ability at this level.

"I expect tomorrow to be a very difficult match," he said. "They have nothing to lose - only to win. Zenit have a lot of things to lose in this."



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