Republic of Ireland coach Giovanni Trapattoni has told rebel players they face a losing battle if they want to take him on over Liam Brady's appointment.

Former manager Brian Kerr has claimed that many senior players are unhappy with Arsenal academy boss Brady's presence among the coaching staff, which also includes World Cup winner Marco Tardelli and former Ireland internationals Alan Kelly and Mick Martin.

Trapattoni said players would have to deal with Brady's role and appreciate he was only doing his job when he was a TV pundit.

The Italian coach said: "When I was a younger player I thought that journalists, reporters, didn't understand football. As you grow up you understand that each of us has a different job to do. But wherever there is work, there is a critic.

"Liam was a pundit - that's normal. But it's not as if you write something bad about the players and then they stop playing football. Many times I have said to players that you need to do interviews, for example, because it's only by doing that that you can learn and understand the process, what kind of questions might be thrown at you and what kind of answers you should give. That's also part of your job as a player.

"Liam is an asset here. He is important for me and the team. He was a famous player, captain of Ireland.

"In Italy there are 20 or 30 ex-players who work in television. Should we all stop playing because they are criticising us? We are not children. We are grown men. If these are the worries we have, instead of thinking about qualifying for the World Cup, then it's better we stay at home."