Randolph - We are not afraid of anyone

Randolph
Darren Randolph encountered mixed emotions against Tottenham last weekend but says he is thrilled to be back in the starting line-up and is excited to be playing against the biggest teams in the top flight.

Randolph has waited patiently for his breakthrough into the first-team, but finally got his just rewards when he made his first Premier League appearance of the season during the big London derby against Tottenham last weekend.

The Republic of Ireland keeper is now hoping to cement his place in the side and help his team move away from the bottom three with a positive result against Manchester United on Sunday.

Randolph said: “I was very happy to get back into the team after the international break and play in a game like that. I was grateful to get my chance.

“I knew I would have to be patient when I first arrived and was hoping for a good cup run. It has been a long wait but I just want to enjoy it. I am excited by the big games coming up.

“Obviously it was not the best result to come back into last weekend and the players could not believe what happened in the final few minutes.

“It will happen to a number of other teams, but we have to move forward and look ahead to the big games coming up and try to put things right.

“We are not afraid to play against anyone but we have to do it on a consistent basis for 90 plus minutes to get the results that we want.

“We have a lot of games in December and it will be tough for a lot of teams, but hopefully we can capitalise and move towards the top half of the table.”

 

It has been a long wait but I just want to enjoy it. I am excited by the big games coming up.

Darren Randolph

 

Randolph is no stranger to facing Zlatan Ibrahimovic after his Republic of Ireland side came up against the prolific forward when they drew 1-1 with Sweden in the group stages of the European Championship Finals during the summer.

The 29-year-old is looking forward to facing the former Barcelona and AC Milan striker once again at Old Trafford and hopes to keep him off the scoresheet once again.

Randolph added: “I played against him at the Euros and know what he is capable of.

“I watched videos of him in action leading up to the Ireland game and I will do the same again in the build-up to the game at Old Trafford.

“We will see what he has in store for us on Sunday but the main thing from our point of view is making sure we get some points back on the board.

“We need to put some results together and move back up the table.”