Toronto FC Darren O'Dea centre-back turned down the opportunity to play for the Republic of Ireland against Austria on Wednesday, choosing instead to focus on the MLS club's pre-season training.
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The Canadian outfit are currently preparing for the start of the Major League Soccer regular season at a training camp in Orlando, Florida and the Irish defender believes the game against Das Team "probably would have been a game too soon" after the lengthy off-season.
TFC conceded the most goals in the MLS last season (62) and much of their work in pre-season has been focussed on improving their defence.
"You need a settled back four that play week in and week out and know each other,over preseason hopefully we'll get to know each other and come the start of the season, we'll be a solid team," the 26-year-old told Toronto FC TV.
In addition to having the worst defensive record in the league, the Reds also conceded 24 goals in the final 30 minutes of games last season and O'Dea insists the sides mental strength, not their ability, was what let them down last season.
"I've spoken about mentality before. People think it's just a word but it's a very important thing. You can have all the ability in the world, but last season you saw when you concede goals that late on it's not coincidence.
"It's people aren't strong enough. Mentally they're not strong enough," the Republic of Ireland International said. "It's now time that the way things are around the squad change, and it already has changed. And it will continue to change, and once it does success will follow."
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