Sean Gannon says Shamrock Rovers are a lot closer to teams that regularly make the group stages than last week’s 3-0 defeat against Ludogorets Razgrad suggests.
The Hoops have a mountain to climb if they are to continue in the Champions League.
But even if they bow out against the wealthy Bulgarian champions, they are still well placed to progress to either the Europa League or Europa Conference League proper.
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And Gannon believes the Hoops can emulate tonight’s opponents by making qualification for the group stages a habit.
He was at Rovers when they made the Europa League breakthrough in 2011, but didn’t feature, but featured in two group stage campaigns with Dundalk.
“I don't think there is a big gap,” said the defender. “I think we are well-suited for European football.
“We have shown that. We've qualified for group stages before.
“With the introduction of the Conference League there is an opportunity for Irish clubs to go and qualify for the group stages. There is an opportunity there.
“Winning the first round of the Champions League is massive, it sets the whole thing up as you have different pathways then.
“It's wrong for me to sit here and say we are miles off it, we're not.
“I have played in two group stages and I firmly believe we have a group here who can qualify for the group stages, to play at that level.
“It's up to us to go and perform.”
While few would back Rovers to progress in the Champions League tonight, Gannon might have an idea or two on how to achieve the desired result tonight.
His Dundalk side thumped BATE Borisov 3-0 in Tallaght six years ago to guarantee group stage football - although they were only chasing a 1-0 deficit at the time.
“That game over in BATE, we were going to draw 0-0 until I passed the ball straight to Hleb and, bang, in the back of the net,” recalled the 31-year-old, who added that the Belarussians and Bulgarians were similar in standard.
“They battered us for 90 minutes, it was a long flight home.
Asked what factors contributed to the BATE win, he replied: “I just think we’re at home, there's going to be a big crowd behind us.
“We need to get out of the blocks, start fast and take control of the game.
“Listen, in any European game, you need certain things to go your way.
“But I’m not sure there are any certain factors involved.
“It’s a case of knowing we can score goals and going out and trying to do it.
“You can only control certain things and what we can control is putting our own stamp on it.”
He continued: “In any game, there is a certain amount of luck but it is more down to preparation.
“We are well prepared, we know what they’re strengths are and we need to show what our strengths are.
“I don’t know what way they’ll approach it. They’re 3-0 up and the onus is on us to go and attack and take the game to them. That’s all we can control.”
Gannon will make his 46th European appearance tonight - with only current teammate Ronan Finn and former Dundalk pal Gary Rogers ahead of him.
In that time, he has come up against some top-class opposition.
The 31-year-old lined out opposite Zenit St Petersburg and Arsenal in the 2016 and 2020 Europa League group stages respectively.
And in terms of personal milestones, he is one SSE Airtricity Premier Division title win away from being the most decorated player in the history of the Irish game.
Not bad for someone who considers himself a “late bloomer”.
“I always say, when I started off, if I'd go on to achieve what I have achieved, I wouldn't have believed, to be honest,” he said.
“We have 17 year olds in our first team. I was still playing in the DDLS at 17, at 18, actually, for St Kevin's Boys so I was a late developer.
“I consider myself lucky to have played in two group stages but I want to play in many more.”
Hoops boss Stephen Bradley reckons it’s about more than just luck for Gannon.
“It’s been a brilliant journey when you look at it,” said Bradley. “He was here when he was young and had to go away and find his way, and learn how to be a professional.
“He had brilliant years in Dundalk and was so successful, and became the best right-sided player in the country. He became a real man and he matured.
“And obviously he has come back here and continued that on.
“It would be an incredible achievement if he gets to do it. You look at it, eight leagues if he gets it, it’s an incredible achievement and something that might never be done again.
“So we’ll do everything possible to try and make that happen for him.
“It’s testament to him and his character. It wasn’t all rosy for him at the start. He had to go and work for it and earn it and find his way, and he’s done that.”
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