SerpApi.Org
Talisman Michael Duffy feels Derry City need to join the League of Ireland club’s European party.
The Candystripes face Croatian side HNK Rijeka in the Europa Conference League on Thursday night and he wants Tiernan Lynch’s side join the likes of Dundalk, Shamrock Rovers, and Shelbourne by progressing to the group phases in Europe.
Over the years the Brandywell men have had famous wins against the likes of IFK Gothenburg, KuPS, and Dinamo Minsk, but they have fallen at the final hurdle in terms of reaching the group stages in a European competition, something which Duffy has experience of during his time at Oriel Park.
“You see League of Ireland clubs over the last few years doing brilliantly in Europe,” he stated.
“Teams qualifying for the group stage nearly every year and that’s something we definitely want to do.
“We have to believe we can do that, we can give anyone a game whenever were on it, so that’s our mentality going into these two games against HNK Rijeka.
“It’s going to be another tough game, but we’re looking forward to it.
“We showed in the last round what we can do, we took CSKA Sofia right to the end and they’re a top side, obviously it was disappointing to go out, but we just have to build on our performance and take that into Thursday night’s game in Rijeka.”
The 31-year-old, who won the 2025 PFAI Player of the Year award, knows getting a positive result in Croatia is crucial if they harbour any hopes of progressing.
“Look, it’s going to be tough, conditions and everything that goes with that, they’re a top side - but regardless we want to come back to the Brandywell with something to play for in the second leg.
“We going out there to try and win the game, we’re not going to Rijeka just to sit in the whole time, we’ll have a game-plan and we’ll look to ensure that we’ll bring something back to the Brandywell and look to have another big night, like the one we did against Sofia.
“The atmosphere against CSKA Sofia was unbelievable and we’re hoping it’s going to be similar in a few weeks’ time for when NHK Rijeka come here.
“Those are the type of games you want to play in, those nights where the Brandywell is packed out are class, and we want another one of those big nights in a couple of weeks’ time.
“We showed in Sofia that we can get a result, it was tough and we had to grind things out at times, which will be the same in Rijeka.
“The whole team also have to defend well, we’ll have to be well-structured and everyone has to be talking and fully concentrated, but we know that we can do that as we did in Sofia.
“We were brilliant in Sofia and whenever we needed to go for it a bit and get the goals, we did and we brought it back to the Brandywell, so we’ll going to with the same type of thing in Rijeka, and we’ll be taking confidence from our two games against Sofia.”
In recent weeks the Foylesiders have added the likes of Christy Grogan, Nick Twisk, Ellis Chapman, and Darragh Burns and the City skipper believes the new recruits were badly need to strengthen the squad.
“We’ve brought in a couple of great signings, who have League of Ireland experience and their exciting players as well,” he explained.
“It’s good for the squad, as we’ve been lacking strength in depth over the last few weeks. We’ve been down to the bare bones really in league matches, but everyone is coming back now at the right time and the new signings are getting their match fitness up, so the squad is looking good going into the remainder of the season.”
The former Dundalk man admits leading his hometown club in Europe is special.
“It is special, but every game that I led the team out is special,” admitted Duffy.
“But European games are just different and especially the other night against CSKA, walking out into a packed out Brandywell and the place didn’t stop the whole night, it does mean a lot to me.
“I just hope we can now put in two big performances, starting in Croatia on Thursday and get into the next round.”
City should have James Clarke and Liam Boyce both pushing for a place in Derry’s starting line-up after the attacking duo featured in Sunday’s Club Orange FAI Cup win over Tolka Rovers.
However, centre-back Christy Grogan is a doubt with an ankle problem and midfielder Darragh Markey is likely to miss the remainder of the season with an Achilles injury.
