Former Republic of Ireland defender Damien Delaney recalled his debut for Leicester City and the lack of media training he received before doing interviews.
Delaney made his Premier League debut for Leicester against Manchester United in Old Trafford in 2000, coming up against the likes of Roy Keane, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Teddy Sheringham at the age of 18.
Speaking on OTB Football Saturday, the Cork native suggested that he sometimes struggles to recognise himself in photos from that time.
“I often see photographs of myself from back then and I just look like a boy to be honest,” Delaney said.
“Sometimes I look back and think, ‘how did that end up happening?’ but it did. It was a nice day though.”
Leicester would ultimately lose 2-0, with two late goals from the Red Devils in the final two minutes of the match.
Any youngster would be forgiven for being nervous to make a debut against a Manchester United team which also included Paul Scholes and Gary Neville amongst Keane, Solskjaer and Sheringham.
Delaney, however, said that he did not have much time for the nerves or the awe to set in, as he was told that he would be starting at Old Trafford mere hours before kick off.
“I wasn’t in awe really; I didn’t have time,” Delaney said. “I only got told at the hotel just before we left to go to the stadium.
“I had no inclination that I was going to be playing. I was going up there thinking that I was going to be 17th man when squads were 16 at the time and there were 17 players on the bus.
“I just assumed I’d be the 17th man, and when I went into the hotel meeting room beforehand a flip chart got pulled over and there was my name.
“I didn’t even notice it to start with and that was it. On the bus, then the game started and before I knew it, it was over.”
Damien Delaney, Leicester City. Mike Egerton/EMPICS SportDelaney tried not to say anything too drastic
Responding to clips of Neville and Scholes in some of their earliest interviews as players, Delaney suggested that often players do not get a lot of media training before doing interviews.
“Usually when you are doing interviews the press officer would be stood next to you or stood behind the interviewer and would maybe start shaking his head,” Delaney said.
“Players are just told to stay in the middle of the road. You don’t want to say anything too drastic, or say anything too out there, because some people can read too much into it.
“It is basically just giving sort of nothing answers or giving middle of the road answers.”
Although he always strived to keep his head down in post-match interviews, Delaney acknowledged that sometimes it was best not to say anything at all.
“I suppose post-match, a couple of times you do kind of wander into the media zone and you could still be seething over a decision,” Delaney said.
“Sometimes you are better off just to put your hood up and your earphones on and walk straight through.”
Download the brand new OffTheBall App in the Play Store & App Store right now! We've got you covered!
Subscribe to OffTheBall's YouTube channel for more videos, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for the latest sporting news and content.
