Work with Brady or you can stay at home, Trapattoni tells Ireland rebels

Brady has been an outspoken television pundit for several years in Ireland and is now assistant manager to Trapattoni. But former manager Brian Kerr has claimed that many senior players are unhappy with ex-Ireland captain Brady's presence among the coaching staff, which also includes World Cup winner Marco Tardelli and former Ireland internationals Alan Kelly and Mick Martin.

Trapattoni said players would have to deal with Brady's role and appreciate he was only doing his job when he was a TV pundit.

The Italian coach said: "When I was a younger player I thought that journalists, reporters, didn't understand football. As you grow up you understand that each of us has a different job to do. But wherever there is work, there is a critic.

"Liam was a pundit - that's normal. But it's not as if you write something bad about the players and then they stop playing football. Many times I have said to players that you need to do interviews, for example, because it's only by doing that that you can learn and understand the process, what kind of questions might be thrown at you and what kind of answers you should give. That's also part of your job as a player.

"Liam is an asset here. He is important for me and the team. He was a famous player, captain of Ireland.

"In Italy there are 20 or 30 ex-players who work in television. Should we all stop playing because they are criticising us? We are not children. We are grown men. If these are the worries we have, instead of thinking about qualifying for the World Cup, then it's better we stay at home."

Wolves striker Andy Keogh scored a last-minute equaliser to earn Trapattoni a draw in his Croke Park debut in front of more than 55,000 supporters on Saturday night after substitute Marko Pantelic had put the visitors ahead.

Ireland face Colombia in a friendly at Craven Cottage on Thursday night and John O'Shea and Aiden McGeady are likely to be recalled.

Trapattoni added: "I was happy with the performance and it was important to get a positive result. We did not deserve to lose. We have grown a lot in the time we've been together. We've grown in trust in ourselves and each other. That is what is important.

"I am sure when the five or six players come in the team, we will grow in confidence and improve gradually. 'We have some excellent players, amazing players, and we're a good team."