Giovanni Trapattoni: 'I deserve to stay'

Giovanni Trapattoni has insisted that he and assistant manager Marco Tardelli deserve to stay in charge of the Republic of Ireland national team.

The pair have worked together with the FAI since 2008 and are contracted in their roles until the summer of 2014.

Despite criticism of his selection policy following Ireland's early elimination from Euro 2012, Trapattoni says that he is going nowhere.

He told reporters: "I think we deserve [to stay]. We have a reason because we achieved qualification after 24 years.

"If you read the names when we came, see how many players are still in this team and how many players are still in the others.

"That is our right to stay. I have more enthusiasm to stay than you and your colleagues. The Irish people can decide."

Prior to Euro 2012, Ireland had not qualified for the finals of the European Championships since 1988.