April 28, 2008 6:47 PM

SOURCE:
goal.com

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Nuno Gomes Hails Trapattoni

Benfica striker Nuno Gomes has praised the credentials of soon-to-be Ireland coach Giovani Trapattoni and believes he will greatly lift the footballing nation...

The legendary Italian coach is due to take over the Republic of Ireland national side in just a few days and Nuno Gomes, who played under him when the Trap managed Benfica, has nothing but good things to say about the master tactician.

Trapattoni brought the league title back to the Eagles for the first time in over a decade in 2004/05, and Gomes has hailed his historic stature as a player as well as a manager.

"I think he's one the biggest coaches we've had," Gomes told TV3's Dave Kelly from Benfica's training camp in Lisbon.

"He used to be a great player also, an historic player. He has a lot of experience in Italy. He trained a lot of good teams, he is a man of football and will help the Irish team."

He admits that leading them to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa will be no mean feat considering their main rivals for qualification, but insists they will qualify, and that the former Juventus coach's experience and organisation skills will prove an asset in this regard.

"It will be a difficult job as they are in the same group as Italy and Bulgaria," said Gomes. "I think they will succeed. With his experience he can make a good team. He can organise the team and transmit his experience to the players. They can reach the World Cup.

Trapattoni is occasionally criticised for being a defensive Italian coach. Gomes was keen to play down such stereotypes, and merely pointed to their 2005 league position as evidence of his credentials, insisting that all fans want success ahead of anything, and that Trapattoni will always try to win.

"He's an Italian coach but we won the League here in Portugal with him. A lot of people accuse us of being a defensive team but at the end of the league we were first. That's what matters," explained Gomes.

"I think for him the most important things is don't lose, but he will always try to win.

"The Irish players will enjoy working with him. He is also a nice person. He will talk to you at any moment. The players will enjoy him."