Pocognoli admits 'positive nervousness' before Scotland debut in Slovenia
Sebastien Pocognoli said he felt "positive nervousness" ahead of his first match as Scotland head coach, a Nations League tie against Slovenia in Ljubljana on Saturday, 26 September at 14:00 BST.
Pocognoli, a Belgian, was appointed in August to replace Steve Clarke after Clarke's seven-year spell ended following Scotland's exit at the group stages of the World Cup. He begins a run of four Nations League fixtures across 11 days — away to Slovenia, then Switzerland at Hampden, a trip to North Macedonia and a return meeting with Slovenia in Glasgow — and the squad is currently training at a warm-weather camp in La Manga, Spain.
The manager has selected a youthful, changed group that includes 19-year-old James Wilson; four 20-year-olds — Findlay Curtis, Ben Gannon-Doak, Lennon Miller and Colby Donovan — and three players aged 22 — Kristi Montgomery, Luke Graham and Robbie Ure. With Blackburn's Montgomery replacing the injured Kenny McLean, there are now eight uncapped players in the squad.
Pocognoli said he knows his team and his formation for the Slovenia game but is not wedded to any single system, noting that playing three at the back has been a staple of his coaching to this point. "I always think the players select themselves," he added, and warned of the need to manage workload: "We have four games, so we need to plan. We need to have a periodisation [managing training loads, games and recovery] about the tactical aspect and the physical aspect." "This team can be flexible. We're ready for the four games in terms of what kind of approach we want to give," he said.
Pocognoli revealed he had "a nice meeting on the phone" with Clarke. "He was very kind, very... humble. That was very helpful for me. It just was to let me know that he's behind the team. He was very happy [in his time in the job] but he also felt that it was the right time [to leave]. He wished me all the best." On his own aims he said: "I will try to be as successful as the previous staff because we want to play in a big tournament. We want to create this moment for the country."
On style and player characteristics, the manager described his approach as focused on aggressive pressing and a fast tempo. "For me, it's about the personality of the players," he said. "I like a unit team who are just fighting for each other. "It's a basic principle - attack together and squeeze the pitch. When we need to defend, it's just to defend like brothers. When we lose the ball, it's try to regain the ball as quickly as possible. "From that, there are a lot of other principles, but that's the base. If you cannot get this, you will never have good principles on the pitch."
Acknowledging the condensed schedule will require rotation, Pocognoli said the squad has responded well so far in La Manga but must prove itself in matches. "So good so far," he said about what he has seen in La Manga. "But we need to get the response through the games. It's up to them to perform well, but it's up to me to make them perform well." Asked if his football will be more risky than Clarke's, he added: "We have to find the right balance because if you play fantastic football and you don't qualify you get some criticism."
Scotland's Nations League campaign begins with the trip to Slovenia in Ljubljana on Saturday, 26 September at 14:00 BST, followed by the home fixture with Switzerland at Hampden, the match in North Macedonia and the concluding meeting with Slovenia in Glasgow.
