Mick McCarthy admitted that he was jaded on the eve of his first competitive match back in charge, as Ireland get ready to take on Gibraltar in the Euro 2020 qualifiers.
Thankfully, from an Irish perspective, the manager’s fatigue is solely in relation to answering questions, and he looked just a little underwhelmed at the prospect of facing the media, yet again, with not one moment of competitive football to talk about four months into the job.
"I’m sick of talking about it, so forgive me, I’m not going to wax lyrical about it," said the manager, a local journalist getting a crash course into the McCarthy way, having been afforded the privilege of asking the first question.
"I’m just looking forward to get playing now, it’s been four months.
"I seem to have been everywhere, spoken to everybody. I’m not sure there are questions you can ask me that I can answer any differently until we’ve had a game. So I’m really looking forward to playing."
But it did not take the manager long to warm up, as the obvious enthusiasm could not hide itself from his most expressive face; his side about to embark on the road to Euro 2020 and his first game back in charge.
"The butterflies are here already. Not from talking here, although that is part of it, it is part of the build-up to the game, and it is getting closer and closer.
"So I have that feeling and I’m glad I have it because if I lose that, it would mean there is something wrong, and it has been with me since the first game I have ever played."
McCarthy has promised to try to deliver winning football, although the much sought after stylish football may have to wait a while as strong winds look set to play their part in proceedings at the Victoria Stadium.
"We don’t play in ideal conditions all the time – bear in mind I started at Barnsley, I’ve been to Sunderland and up in Glasgow, so it is nothing that concerns me. It is what it is. We will just get on with it."
Having spent a week working with the squad, McCarthy admitted that he has been very happy with the attitude and application that has been shown.
The manager has had four months to decide on his starting XI ahead of the game, but as he spoke of earlier in the week, he wanted to see his players training before he makes up his mind.
"Most of them have been together for a long time, but players like Jack Byrne, Josh Cullen and James Collins have come in, and they are great lads and they have all bonded really quickly.
"They have all been chasing around and putting in a bit extra. They were eager to impress and they have been training overly hard.
"I have been really pleased with everybody, it is just that some have stood out and impressed me.
"Before the start of the week, without mentioning names, there were players I was thinking of for the starting XI, and it has probably made my mind up and convinced me that what I was thinking was right."
Three players who were very much in the manager’s mind have been ruled out through injury, while McCarthy also suggested that others might need to be starting regularly to be considered to start.
"Of course, I have been waxing lyrical about all the goals that Alan Browne, Callum O’Dowda and Ronan Curtis have been scoring, but the three of them aren’t here. They were in my thoughts to play.
"Robbie Brady is fit enough to be here and contribute, but he has not been starting many games," said McCarthy when asked specifically about the Burnley man.
The Ireland team getting a bit of possession practice on the plastic pitch at the Victoria Stadium. #RTEsoccer pic.twitter.com/sesn2MCYwW
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) March 22, 2019
Looking ahead to the match, and while the excitement was palpable with the manager appearing to really enjoy talking about the imminent fixture, he was also quick to urge caution about the challenge that faces them tomorrow night.
"I’ve just been watching them and I know what strengths they have and the weaknesses.
"They are a really committed team, extremely well organised with some good technical players, and they will have a huge sense of pride playing their first Euro 2020 qualifier at their home stadium.
"So I respect the opposition whoever we play. And we really have to be at the top of our game to make sure we do everything properly and play as well as we can."
With little time to work with the players on tactics or formations, the one area that the squad really worked on this week was attempting to get players moving forward in unison, getting bodies in the box and creating more chances.
"I wasn’t happy with the amount of chances that we were creating or players getting in the box.
"TC [Terry Connor] put on a great session to address exactly that during the week and then we showed them the feedback later that night to show them the difference between how you can do.
"We have worked on it and that’s all we can do, get more bodies on the move and hopefully we can create the chances."
With Seamus Coleman sitting beside the manager for the press conference, and confirmed to play on Saturday, it would appear that should Matt Doherty play, it will not be in his usual position on the right side of defence, albeit as a wing-back with Wolves.
The question, of course, was floated to the manager, in relation to players playing out of their regular position. But just like one of McCarthy’s old school long throw-ins, it was sent flying.
"If it should arise, I don’t think it would be a problem. I have no intention of playing someone so far out of position that it is going to confuse him."
"Does that answer your question," laughed the manager knowingly.
"I think you’re looking for something else, but I’m not going to give it to you."
Follow Gibraltar v Republic of Ireland (kick-off 5pm) with our live blog on RTÉ Sport Online or the RTÉ News Now app, watch live on RTÉ2 or listen live on RTÉ Radio 1's Saturday Sport
