Max O'Leary on Bristol City 'arrogance', admiration for Manning and Robins' eight 'cup finals'

For the last few seasons, international breaks have tended to follow a familiar pattern for Max O'Leary. The Bristol City goalkeeper may be yet to make his Republic of Ireland debut, but he has been a regular fixture in squads since receiving his maiden call-up in 2022.

While fellow City teammates Jason Knight, Mark Sykes and Sinclair Armstrong will link up with Heimir Hallgrimson's squad for two Nations League games against Gibraltar this month, O'Leary will remain in the West Country for the first time this season. Although he's understandably frustrated, he's taking the chance to prepare for the Championship run-in having started all of the Reds' 38 Championship matches this term.

"Of course, I'd like to go away," the goalkeeper told Bristol Live. "Being involved is great but obviously this time I'm not.

"It's just a bit of time to have a couple of days, reset and then back to it. Training is always really competitive when we've got a bit of time off and I'm sure it won't be any different this time around."

The Robins head into the international break off the back of a seven-match unbeaten run and an impressive win over Norwich City under the Ashton Gate lights. For a matter of hours, the Reds climbed into the Championship play-off places after their win over the Canaries and late 1-1 draw away to Sheffield United. Unfortunately, results over the remainder of the weekend saw them fall behind West Brom on goal difference, leaving them just outside of the top six for the next two weeks.

Things don't get much easier for Liam Manning's side after the break. City return to league action with a trip to Turf Moor to face promotion-chasing Burnley before welcoming fellow play-off hopefuls Watford and West Brom to Ashton Gate in quick succession. On top of that, they still have to face Leeds United and Sunderland before their final-day clash with Preston North End in BS3. On paper, the Reds' destiny is in their hands and while supporters may already be dreaming of a day out at Wembley in May, O'Leary, like his manager, is keen to not get too far ahead of himself.

"We're just taking it game by game," the 28-year-old insisted. "We know we're up and around it so we're just taking it game by game.

"We've said just go out, express ourselves and stick to what we want to do. I think, if we play the way that we want to play and not try and chase the end outcome, it will come to us. It's just having that bit of confidence and almost arrogance at times to go and play the game how we want it to be. It's been really good from this group."

Having made his first appearance on the City bench all the way back in October 2013, in a 2-1 home defeat to Brentford, O'Leary has seen plenty of different managers and head coaches take to the Ashton Gate touchline in his time with the Reds. That day, Sean O'Driscoll was in charge but it was Steve Cotterill who handed the academy graduate his debut in an FA Cup draw with West Brom. He then featured at times during Lee Johnson's spell but remained behind Dan Bentley in the pecking order under Dean Holden. Finally, he won the number one shirt on a permanent basis during Nigel Pearson's tenure.

Manning has continued to put his faith in the 28-year-old since taking over the reins in the West Country, with O'Leary one of three players to start every league game so far this season alongside Zak Vyner and Knight. That consistent spine has been a key factor behind the Robins' success this term, providing a platform from which the more creative players can thrive at the top end of the pitch.

City's success on the pitch has perhaps overshadowed some of the events that have occurred off of it over the course of the campaign. While O'Leary was eager to credit his manager for his work on the training ground, he was just as keen to laud him on a personal level for the manner in which he has coped with the tragic passing of his young son Theo earlier this season.

"He's been great, of course, it's been a tough year for him and for everyone," O'Leary explained. "Full credit goes to him for the way he's led this group. It's a pleasure to come in every day and train, the competitiveness and the way that we work are really good at the moment.

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"I know it's been tough and to come back in such a short amount of time, all the boys have so much admiration for him and it shows just what a great man he is, as well as a manager."

Manning's leave of absence saw him miss just two matches in October with Chris Hogg taking charge of the Reds away to both Middlesbrough and Stoke City. The head coach then returned to the dugout for the Robins' 0-0 draw with Leeds United at Ashton Gate where the home fans produced a stadium-wide tribute for the boss' son.

Manning has been open about the impact the loss has had on both him and his family and O'Leary believes the off-the-field experiences the City squad have faced as a collective this season have given them a greater perspective of just what is important in life as they prepare for the final few weeks of the campaign.

"You just know there is more to life than football and it's just trying to take every experience and draw from that when you need it," the goalkeeper admitted. "It can help [the team come together] but it's been a great effort from everyone so far and obviously, we've just got to keep it going until the end of the season now.

"Every day, you never know what can happen and we've been saying, take each day as it comes, every game is a cup final and you've got to play it as if it's your last game. We've been trying to have that mentality and it's been working so far."