McClean on FAI Cup final - 'I'll be in Old Trafford'

James McClean says he has "no interest" in attending the Club Orange FAI Cup final and that "the damage is done" regarding his relationship with Derry City.

The Republic of Ireland centurion has not played for his hometown club since July. The following month it was reported that Derry had attempted to cancel McClean's contract on the grounds of his physical condition.

McClean recently released a statement through the PFAI saying that the club had attempted to terminate his contract, describing the move as "incomprehensible" and "setting a dangerous precedent."

He described his period of exile from the squad as "one of the most difficult periods of my life, personally and professionally."

Derry City's form has revived since August under interim manager Mark Connolly and the Brandywell side have battled their way into another Cup final, after wins over Dundalk and Galway United in the quarter-finals and semi-finals respectively.

It offers an opportunity to finish a traumatic season on a triumphant note when they face Waterford on Sunday week, but McClean won't be partaking in the celebrations.

"I have no interest," McClean told RTÉ Radio 1's Inside Sport in an extensive interview on Tuesday.

Asked whether he'll watch the final at the Aviva, McClean replied, "No, I'm taking my son over to Old Trafford to watch United.

"It is [painful] but like I said, I've come to terms with it. It is what it is. It's sad. They all went and got their Cup final suits last week.

"There's a good buzz and that but I know I wasn't going to be a part of it.

"They could come to me tomorrow and say, you're going to start the game and you're going to play the full 90 minutes. And I'd say, thanks but no thanks.

"The damage is done. You've made these last few months horrendous and let my reputation unfairly take a battering."

McClean does, however, wish his brother Patrick well, who has thrived into the latter part of the season despite the turmoil in the background.

The younger McClean was awarded Man of the Match for the 2-0 semi-final win away in Galway.

"I would probably say my situation has made him more popular! Hating on me has made him more popular.

"Nah, look, when all this was happening, I said to Patrick, 'look, this is not your fight. You're in an awkward situation, you focus on yourself'.

"He's been outstanding. I think for the first time, Patrick is not James McClean's brother. He's finally being recognised as Patrick McClean and that's because he's been outstanding.

"Before all this when I was in England, I said there was only two people I would love to see have a better football career than me. That's obviously my son but also Patrick, being my younger brother.

"He's flying at the minute and I hope he goes on from strength to strength. He's really grown this year given all the s*** he has to put up with obviously, being related to me."

McClean also addressed the criticisms he levelled at former Republic of Ireland manager Stephen Kenny in his autobiography, 'The Walls'.

In the book, McClean mocked Kenny's motivational gambits and revealed that some players had given him the nickname 'Mr Bean'.

McClean has previously played under Kenny during his first stint at Derry City and stressed that he had vouched for the incoming manager in 2020 when his international team-mates asked about him.

He also said that he was one of the players that batted for Kenny to remain in the Ireland job following the controversy over the internal video that was produced ahead of Republic of Ireland's November 2020 friendly against England at Wembley, whose content reportedly "shocked" some of the players.

"From the first spell at Derry and the time we worked together at Ireland, there was a long time in between. Time changes people. We were two totally different people.

"I have no ill-feelings towards Stephen and I wouldn't go around bashing Stephen at every opportunity.

"We had our differences during that time and that time is gone now.

"I didn't paint him [in a poor light]. I actually defended him. I gave Dan McDonnell [ghostwriter] full access in the book and told him all that happened. And that did happen.

"I batted for Stephen getting the job and defended Stephen. I was letting people aware of how Stephen is and his mannerisms and was trying to protect him.

"But by the end, I stopped protecting him because we had our differences by then.

"I think it's very important to note that after the Ireland-England game [Wembley friendly in 2020] when the whole video thing happened, Stephen was on the brink.

"I was one of the players that batted for Stephen with the FAI to basically keep him in the job. So it wasn't all ill-feeling towards Stephen."

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