JUST don’t mention the C word. Linfield have been at such pains for the past week to be seen to be ignoring the furore over a potential meeting with Celtic that they went to the lengths of releasing a statement on the subject on Monday.
And as he entered a sparsely populated press room at the National Stadium yesterday afternoon, David Healy would have known he was stepping into a barrage of questions about what potentially lies further down the road.
There have been enough headlines and conversations for everyone to know by now.
But all of it has overlooked Sanmarinese champions La Fiorita. They have travelled to Belfast for tonight’s Uefa Champions League first qualifying round, first leg as amateurs that have lost all 10 of their previous European outings and scored just one goal in the process.
You might never see the day again where bookmakers offer 1/10 on a Danske Bank Premiership club to win a Champions League tie, but that is the level of opposition that has created such public certainty over Linfield’s progression.
Healy is resolute. His focus is on one thing, and one thing only. Journalists bring it up but in 14 minutes, Northern Ireland’s record goalscorer manages to avoid the C word passing his lips.
“Our only focus is this game and the return leg next Tuesday night. We’ve done a little bit of homework on San Marino. They will be given the utmost respect because they’re champions of their country, as are we.
“We know what the prize potentially is, whether it had been anybody else in the second round.
“Financially for the club, getting through a round in Europe’s always been important, so it doesn’t matter who the carrot is in the next round. We’ll be fully focussed on this game and next Tuesday night.”
