The lack of tickets is the only mood dampener ahead of tonight's game, reports PAMELA NEWENHAM
HE MAY be the world’s most expensive player but Cristiano Ronaldo doesn’t scare fans of Shamrock Rovers.
Confidence was high in Tallaght, Dublin, yesterday on the eve of the local club’s much anticipated game against Real Madrid.
Ronaldo is expected to appear for at least part of tonight’s game in which he would be making his Real debut after a €93 million summer transfer from Manchester United.
The only dampener on the mood yesterday was the lack of tickets.
Rovers fan Dermot McNeill said: “I really wanted a ticket for the game but couldn’t get one, so I’ll have to watch in on TV.” Asked what he thought of Portugal’s most famous player, he said: “Ronaldo is over here, over paid and over rated.”
His friend and fellow Shamrock Rovers supporter John Cousins added: “The less said about Ronaldo the better.”
Mr Cousins said the game was “good for the area and the best thing that could have happened to Tallaght stadium”.
He predicted a draw, but was quick to point out that “Rovers don’t hang around – they won’t give Real Madrid an inch”.
Excitement for the game wasn’t just brewing among the football-supporting natives of Tallaght. Local businesses were also preparing to welcome fans from around Ireland and overseas for Ronaldo’s debut.
Craig Dwyer, manager of Champion Sports in The Square Shopping Centre in Tallaght said a number of the Champion sports stores in Dublin had sold out of Real Madrid jerseys.
“We’re predicting the store to be very busy with the influx of people to Tallaght for the game, and we’ve put on extra staff for the day,” he said.
Ciaran Byrne, manager of Lifestyle Sports in the shopping centre, said there had been a massive demand for Real Madrid jerseys, especially ones with “Ronaldo” printed on the back. “Every day people have been coming in looking for jerseys, and we’re hoping it will be busy on the day of the game.”
Rishnoor Kaur, general manager of Tallaght’s Maldron hotel, said it was fully booked for the game. “We put on a special package for the match, and the hotel is fully booked as a result,” she said the hotel is usually busy when Shamrock Rovers are playing in Tallaght stadium – “It’s great business for the area.”
The recently-opened stadium usually has a capacity of 3,500 but has brought in temporary seating to house the 10,000 eager fans wishing to see the game.
Gardaí have warned that with capacity at the stadium jumping for the match, fans should give themselves plenty of time to get to the ground, and use public transport where possible.
Whatever about Ronaldo’s plans, Rovers are determined all their players will take to the field. “The manager wants to give everybody a go, so all 22 of them will get about half an hour each,” Rovers’ spokesman John Byrne said.
“Scoring isn’t important for this one – it’s more the experience.”