Stephen Kenny continued to be defiant about Ireland's style of play before the second game of his time in charge against Finland on Sunday.
"It's been reported at various times that it's in our DNA that we can't pass the ball accurately or we can't play progressively; that as a team, somehow we have to play a more direct style of play because it suits us as a nation - I reject that completely. I don't agree with it," Kenny told Sky Sports.
Though the result and method of scoring against Bulgaria on Thursday - 1-1 with the goal coming via a Shane Duffy header from a set piece - were both familiar, the style of play was notably different from past regimes. Ireland looked to play out from the back and maintain possession.
"The issue with controlling matches is very important to me and to us," Kenny continued.
"I think we had over 500 passes in Bulgaria, in an away game, which we've never, ever had. It's a different way of playing.
"We don't pat ourselves on the back for that because there are areas of improvement: We need more cutting edge in our play.
"I think the fact that the players showed confidence - normally, I'd never measure pass completion ratios but 91 per cent of passes completed shows that the players can pass the ball well and accurately.
"I think we just need to pass with penetration and defensively need to be cohesive as a unit."
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