‘Two lads from Cootehill on the Irish team - the dream’

Interview

20-year old Cavan native Senan Mullen has returned to Irish soil on loan from Italian Serie A club Torino. Last Sunday he made his debut with Bohemians. NICOLE McDERMOTT caught up with him to talk about the style differences of Italian and Irish football, his ambitions for the Dublin club and his hopes for the Irish outfit.

Anglo-Celt: You’ve been back in Ireland just two weeks. How has it been?

Senan Mullen: Yeah, it’s been really good. I’ve really enjoyed it. I’ve settled in quite quickly. It’s definitely easier settling in here than it was in Italy with the language and everything. But yeah, it feels good.

AC: Was there much English spoken in Italy?

SM: All the coaches I’ve had since I went to Italy have been only Italian speaking. I haven’t had an English-speaking coach yet over there. At the start, that was definitely very difficult. I had to kind of learn as I went along. When you’re around it all day, every day, you start picking it up.

AC: How did you manage individual instructions?

SM: A lot of them didn’t speak English, so I’d have to get a translator - maybe one of the strength and conditioning coaches who spoke English. At the start, I worked off that. But after a while, I could understand enough Italian to speak directly to the coach, which was far easier.

AC: You were only 18 when you left. What were your hopes going abroad?

SM: The goal was the same as it is now: to play in Serie A, to play in the Premier League - top divisions. That’s always been my goal. I’m going on loan now to Ireland to gain experience, get better and improve, which I think I really can here. It’s a great place for me to learn a lot. But when the loan finishes, the aim is still to break into the first team. If you go over there not believing in yourself and not pushing for that, there’s no point.

AC: With Bohs, you’ll likely get more game time than in Italy?

SM: Yeah. I did well in Torino - I did well in the Primavera, got Player of the Year and was in the Team of the Year. But breaking into a first team in Italy after underage football is very difficult, especially as a defender. Opportunities are hard to come by.

I already knew people at Bohs. I felt I could trust them with my development, and I knew they believed in me. So hopefully I’ll play more now than I did at Mantova [where he was on loan]. I just have to prove myself in training and in games, earn my spot and keep it.

AC: What are your strengths as a defender?

SM: Physically, I suit it. I played midfield up until I was 18 before switching to centre-back. I’m tall, strong, and fairly quick over long distances, so I’m more suited to centre-back or full-back than midfield. But playing midfield for so long helps. When you drop into defence, you feel you have a bit more time on the ball, and you can see the whole pitch in front of you.

AC: What’s the biggest difference between Italian and Irish football?

SM: Italy is hyper-tactical. There’s a huge focus on structure and control. In Ireland, there’s maybe a bit more freedom. In Italy, everything is very controlled and tactical.

AC: With Italian teams being focused on tactics, you have to be able to adapt to three-man, five-man defensive line with different roles for the game.

SM: Absolutely. The manager wants flexibility, and if you can play a couple of roles, it helps you get into the team. As long as I’m playing, I’m happy. With Bohs, most likely it’ll be in defence, either centre back or left back.

AC: Was Italy a specific choice, or would you have considered other leagues?

SM: My contract with Torino runs until 2028 or 2029, so I have to follow their direction to an extent. But going there, it was the allure of the club. Torino is a massive club with great history. Serie A is something you dream of. But all the top leagues - Serie A, Bundesliga, the Premier League - are where I’ve always aspired to play. If a club like that comes in, it’s hard to say no.

AC: Have you compared experiences with Finn Sherlock who is at the Hoffenheim Academy?

SM: Yeah, I speak with Finn. He’s a top lad and a brilliant footballer. I’m two or three years older, so I went abroad before him, but seeing him go to Germany makes me proud. I always thought he was class. We keep in contact when we can. I was chatting to him a good bit during the World Cup. We’re from the same town and both professional footballers, so we’ll always support and push each other.

AC: Do you see a scenario where the two of you are playing together on the Irish national team?

SM: That’s the dream, isn’t it? Two lads from Cootehill on the Irish team. I just have to focus on getting better. Maybe one day that could happen.

AC: Is playing for Ireland something you think about?

SM: Yeah, absolutely. It’s one of the reasons I wanted to come back to play in Ireland.

It’s easier for the U21s manager to see me play. In Italy, it’s hard for him to travel over when he’s often in England watching players.

Here, I’ve a platform to show my ability and hopefully break into that team. Long term, my biggest dream has always been to play for the Irish national team.

There’s a long way to go, but I’ll keep working and hopefully get there.