When Mourinho or Conte rant on the touchline folk go on about their great passion... When I do it people just think I’m a tube!
SAYS ALEX McLEISH
ALEX McLEISH didn’t need much from this initial two-game fishing expedition. Just a couple of promising performers on the end of his rod would have done.
But the national boss was reeling them in regardless on Tuesday night as his second coming as Scotland manager got up and running.
A first win. The emergence of a second young centre-half in as many matches. A No.10 who looks ready made to cut it at this level and even a potential answer to Scotland’s goalscoring problems as Matt Phillips got off the mark in a makeshift centre-forward role.
If this was Scotland wriggling off the hook then it made for merciful viewing.
Given the early strain that was building on McLeish ahead of this trip to Budapest – following last week’s false start at home to Costa Rica – it’s little wonder the man in charge was letting off some steam on the touchline as he watched his catch come together. He needed this one. That’s for sure. “Do you think I didn’t feel that?” he said as he let out a huge puff of relief. As absurd as it sounds, just one game into the job, McLeish found himself in a tight spot in Hungary. This 1-0 win has bought him a bit of breathing space.
He said: “I knew I had to stick to what I was doing. I didn’t have any regrets about what I’ve done in the last couple of games, bringing a lot of new faces in.
“We have guys out there who did not make the squad but who are already tried and trusted. Their Scotland careers are not over.
“But what we’ve seen over the two games is young guys getting blooded and showing they want to be a part of it. Now with the evidence of winning a game together, they will all be wanting to play.”
And McLeish, it seems, will be kicking every ball with them from the touchline.
After deliberately opting to take more of a back-seat approach at Hampden on Friday, McLeish was wearing his heart on his sleeve again as he prowled around his technical area at the Groupama Arena, barking instructions to his players. This was more like his former self. He nodded and said: “It feels great. I was parading the dugout, trying to be as cool as a cucumber but I was kicking every ball.
“I kind of sat back a bit in the Hampden game but I like to kick every ball and try to make it possible for people on the other side of the pitch to hear. I see Pep Guardiola doing it and Antonio Conte doing it. I used to do it as well.
“It feels more natural to do it this way. It’s the way I’ve always done it. Against Costa Rica I wanted to have a look from a higher point just to see the shape of the guys and try to get a better judgment. But next time I will be on the turf.
“It makes us all feel more together when I’m out there communicating with the players.
“Sometimes some people say, ‘What are you standing there shouting for? They won’t hear you on the other side of the park shouting and moaning!’
“But as I said, when Mourinho did it, or Conte, everyone talks about how passionate they are. When I do it people think I’m just a tube!”
And yet McLeish’s wisdom is much needed, especially given the inexperience of his new-look three-man defence.
Last week he blooded Aberdeen’s Scott McKenna against the Costa Ricans. On Tuesday it was Celtic’s novice Jack Hendry winning his first cap. Both came through with flying colours. McLeish, who knows a thing or two about playing this position, said: “They were outstanding. I brought Jack in because I saw him in one game – he came on as a sub for Celtic against Rangers – and I loved his composure for a young kid coming into an Old Firm game. I thought, ‘I’m going to do a wild card here.’ Thankfully my eyes were correct.
“These boys are even bigger than I was. I would love to see these guys going on to get many caps for Scotland but they’ve made a good start.
“We haven’t had much time together in terms of coaching or organising the team because of boys playing on Sunday.
“With Jack, there were a couple of things in training I pointed out to him. I can’t tell him everything in one night but we made him aware of their strikers. We did a wee bit of work on heading as well. A lot of centre-halves nowadays don’t head the ball but when you look at the top teams they have fantastic centre-halves who are aggressive in the air – Ramos with Real Madrid, Pique with Barcelona. And they can play as well.
“If we can nurture guys like Jack, I’m sure Brendan Rodgers would have been delighted to see his display the other night as would Derek McInnes with Scott.”
With Callum McGregor, John McGinn and Stuart Armstrong making up the Scottish midfield there was a better balance to McLeish’s side.
Considering this was only McGregor’s third cap it looks very much as if the Celtic player has always belonged at this level.
Again, his emergence adds another