Northern Ireland supervisor Michael O’Neill says he is “delighted” that March’s World Cup play-off with Italy shall be performed in Bergamo.
Italy transfer their dwelling matches across the nation however massive fixtures historically have been performed on the San Siro in Milan or Stadio Olimpico in Rome.
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However, it has been reported in native media that the smaller venue in Bergamo has been chosen to ease stress on an Italian aspect who final certified for a World Cup in 2014.
The New Balance Arena, which is dwelling of Serie A aspect Atalanta, has a capability of just about 25,000.
The play-off semi-final takes place on 26 March and the winner will journey to both Wales or Bosnia-Herzegovina for a spot on the finals, with a spot for Group B alongside co-hosts Canada, Switzerland and Qatar up for grabs.
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O’Neill, who is balancing his international duties with a new club role at Blackburn Rovers till the tip of the season, mentioned the New Balance Arena “suits us”.
“If you look at the majority of players in my squad, outside of the four lads who play in the Premier League, they play the majority of their games in stadiums anywhere between 10,000 to 25 or 30,000,” O’Neill mentioned on BBC Radio 5Live.
“They won’t be exposed to the San Siro or Stadio Olimpico, so I think we’ll feel very at home in Bergamo and we won’t be intimidated by the atmosphere at all.
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“Obviously the Italians and Genaro Gattusso have their causes for going there are nicely, however we’re proud of the selection of venue.”
When the play-off draw was confirmed, O’Neill visited Atalanta’s game with Inter Milan in December to get a sense of the venue.
“I noticed a sport stay in the stadium, which I assumed was vital, and it is not dissimilar to our personal stadium.
“Out stadium in Belfast holds just under 19,000. The Italians have their reasons for wanting to play there but, if I’m honest, I feel it suits us.”
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O’Neill took cost of his first sport as Blackburn Rovers supervisor on Saturday in a 3-1 win at Queen’s Park Rangers, which took the membership out of the relegation zone in the Championship.
The 56-year-old admitted it had been a “busy few days” and praised coach Damien Johnson, who ready the workforce earlier than O’Neill’s arrival at Ewood Park.
“It was a great start for us. Like anything, it’s always easier coming in on the Monday morning after a good result and the atmosphere is good at the club.
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“It’s made constructing relationships with gamers that little bit simpler.”
O’Neill, who previously managed at Stoke City and Shamrock Rovers, said there was “A number of various things” between club management and at international level.
“International administration is rather a lot about man administration and the gamers are chosen in a consultant scenario,” he said.
“At a membership, a participant is an worker, similar to the supervisor, in order that relationship is completely different.
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“At the end of the day, a player has a choice if they turn up for international duty or not.
“How you handle the gamers needs to be completely different in every scenario, and I do not actually have a desire both means.”
O’Neill said just having to deal with on-pitch matters, rather than dealing with reshaping a squad in a transfer window, appealed about the job at Blackburn.
“All I’m actually in right here to do is galvanise the membership, put together the workforce for the video games at hand and, as a global supervisor, they’re the 2 key issues it’s essential to do.
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“We’ll bring players together on a Sunday and we’ll have three days to prepare them for a World Cup play-off. We’ve got good at it over the years and we’ve got quite good at it over the years.
“You have a way more slender prism in worldwide soccer, whereas as a membership supervisor you’re coping with much more sides of the membership. Thankfully on the minute with Blackburn these will not be on my desk.”