Shane Duffy has spoken to Off The Ball about his playing style, whether being seen as a no-nonsense defender frustrates him, and adding more goals to his game for Ireland.
Shane was speaking to Nathan Murphy from Brighton's training base on the south coast, a place where he has done some of his best work at becoming one of the most feared defenders in the league; a player that other players know they will never have an easy minute in his presence.
It was the apparent juxtaposition with his former Everton team-mate that had Duffy pause for thought on the dichotomy between the ball-playing defender and the more physical stopper.
"I love it. I am proud to be who I am. John Stones is still a very good defender, but his manager wants him to play total football.
"I can't change for someone else, I have to be who I am. If I try to be someone else, then I'll forget what I'm good at.
"I am what I am. I am still trying to improve on the other side as well, I want to get that too. But I want to keep what I am in my game as well."
"Mick comes in, gives you a big hug..!"@shaneduffy spoke to @nathanmurf about the novelty of Mick's management style, and comparisons to the man himself.
More from Shane: https://t.co/jiyPxBFdj0 pic.twitter.com/fvfTIuYfQs— Off The Ball (@offtheball) August 4, 2019
But a twinkle returns to Duffy's eye when talk turns to goalscoring, as he remembers the crucial goal he got in June.
"Don't get me wrong, I would love [Ireland] to be attacking all the time, because I would have a quiet night!
"But sometimes you have to roll your sleeves up against some tough countries and you can thrive off them.
"Hopefully, I can add a few more goals to my game for Ireland. I feel like I should have more than I do."
Off The Ball will broadcast a feature interview with Shane Duffy in the coming weeks, in association with the Irish Blood Transfusion Board.
Duffy will talk about the horrific injury he suffered in 2010 and the importance of blood donation, check out www.giveblood.ie.
