“I’m hoping for a packed stadium when we face Puskás too.”

“I’m hoping for a packed stadium when we face Puskás too.”

Head coach Robbie Keane praised his team’s response to Ludogorec’s aggressive opening. As previously reported, our men’s football team—36-time Hungarian champions—secured a 3-0 victory over Bulgarian side Ludogorec Razgrad at the Groupama Arena. The win earned them a spot in the Champions League play-offs, where they’ll face Qarabag from Azerbaijan for a place in the main draw. Additionally, the triumph guarantees their participation in the UEFA Europa League group stage, just like last season.

After the match, Keane addressed the media. He opened with a light-hearted remark: “If there are no questions, then goodbye,” he joked, after a long silence followed a query about needing a Bulgarian interpreter.

Keane reflected on the match: “I sensed this would be a different kind of game than the first leg. It took us a bit to adjust to their attacking style, but once we did, we took control. Matches at this level are never easy, but if we can keep clean sheets and score goals like that, I’m happy.”

When asked about injuries—given the physical nature of Ludogorec’s play—Keane confirmed that Habib Maiga was the only concern, though the severity is still unclear. He also commended the impact of the substitutes:

“I always tell the bench players not to come on just to fill numbers, but to influence the game—and they did exactly that today. Every sub contributed.”

Finally, Keane praised the electric atmosphere created by the 19,111 fans in attendance:

“The energy was phenomenal. I said yesterday that fans had promised me they’d bring the noise, and they delivered. You could see how much it lifted the players. I’m hoping for another sell-out crowd this Saturday when we take on Puskás Academy.”