Zenit St.Petersburg have automatically qualified for the knockout stages of the Europa League after just four games in Group D.
They took six points from Dundalk in doing so, but it is very clear that Stephen Kenny's men earned the respect of their extremely wealthy opponents with the manner in which they played in both ties.
Axel Witsel, who in a convincing win against Ireland for Belgium in Bordeaux back in June, took to twitter after the game to celebrate his side's progression to the next stage, and also offer some praise for Dundalk.
Four wins and through to the next #UEL round unbeaten! Big ? for Dundalk and another great game from their side ? Giuliano ??? #davaidavai pic.twitter.com/kED6GlaURm
— Axel Witsel (@axelwitsel28) November 3, 2016
Big hands-up emoji, a true mark of respect in this day and age.
Witsel then went on to have the craic with a few Dundalk fans who replied to his post, something we were happy to see... Unless of course it was his marketing team, in which case it's everything that's wrong with modern football.
@allanmathews125 sorry mate I told Giuliano you asked for two, I just didn't say "own" ??
— Axel Witsel (@axelwitsel28) November 3, 2016
@allanmathews125 will do our best!
— Axel Witsel (@axelwitsel28) November 3, 2016
@Curtis__94 pic.twitter.com/DJkhHYa9kG
— Axel Witsel (@axelwitsel28) November 3, 2016
We're giving him the benefit of the doubt and hoping it is indeed Witsel, if he's anything like his international teammate Michy Batshuayi then he's got full control of what he puts out there.
Good to see, although it will come as little consolation to Stephen Kenny. That said, with two games remaining Dundalk still have a very good chance of going through.
