'Issue somewhere' at Derry City - McClean

What the report says

James McClean has questioned Derry City’s disappointing European campaign, saying the team’s results are not down to a lack of effort but suggest there is “an issue somewhere” inside the club, according to BBC Sport Football. The midfielder, who returned to his hometown side from Wrexham in January, made the comments on Instagram after Derry were eliminated from the UEFA Conference League by Croatian club Rijeka.

BBC Sport said Derry lost both legs of the second qualifying round tie 1-0, following an earlier 5-3 aggregate defeat by CSKA Sofia in Europa League qualifying. Manager Tiernan Lynch had already urged his players to be “a little bit braver” in these matches. McClean was not in the squad for the Rijeka game.

The article said Derry finished second in the League of Ireland last season but are currently sixth, 21 points behind leaders Shamrock Rovers. McClean argued that other Irish clubs and former Lynch team Larne have made progress in Europe this year, while Derry have lost all four of their continental matches. The comments add to scrutiny of a season that has not matched expectations for either the player or the club. Derry City’s next league match is away to St Patrick’s Athletic on Sunday.