Steve Clarke, throughout his Scotland tenure, has had his doubters and his critics. Those naysayers though are to be found exclusively on the outside of the national team camp.
Of all the players who have flourished under Clarke’s tutelage, perhaps the most marked improvement in terms of both his influence on and importance to this Scotland side has been that of Scott McTominay, with the Napoli midfielder arguably now the key man for his country.
So, it is maybe of little surprise to hear that McTominay is a staunch backer or Clarke and his record, but it was interesting to hear the 28-year-old offer an initially unprompted defence of his manager – and in particular, his guidance of Scotland during the ill-fated European Championships campaign last summer – now that the mood around the Scottish camp is a little lighter once again.
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Though, as McTominay tells it, the despair that enveloped the nation post-Germany didn’t puncture the inner sanctum, where faith in Clarke has remained steadfast. The current four match unbeaten run Scotland are on, made up of a goalless draw against Portugal and wins over Croatia, Poland and Greece would suggest their trust that things would turn again was justified.
And if the Scots can finish the job of staying in the A League of the Nations League by coming out on top once more against the Greeks at Hampden tomorrow, then McTominay says it will be a further marker of just how much Clarke has ‘transformed’ the national team from also-rans to a side who believes they can mix it with the best.
“First of all, in the summer, it was very fine margins,” McTominay said.
“The media will always say it is doom and gloom, stuff like that. It was such slim margins where, if you don’t take your moments in both boxes against top teams you are going to get punished.
“I don’t really read or pay much attention to the criticism, but from the general feeling from friends, family members, other players then sometimes it is a bit unjustified given how well and what Steve Clarke has done for this whole group of players.
“He has basically transformed us into believing we can go and play against Spain, Germany and teams like that.
“If there is one game where it doesn’t come off, then he still has belief in us the next time. For a player, that is crucial.
“He is such a great manager and as a person as well, he helps you progress as a player.”
McTominay is in line to earn his 60th cap for his country against the Greeks, and he says that the progress of the team since his debut in 2018 is undeniable, particularly since Clarke was appointed the following year.
“The development has been massive,” he said.
“We’ve had a lot of different players over the years but there has been that core of more senior players as well.
“I love seeing young boys come in full of confidence wanting to prove they’re ready to play and in my opinion they’re more than good enough. I wish them all the best in their careers as well.
“I’m experienced. I’ve had 59 caps so I know the standards required to come to play for Scotland. I know the responsibilities players have to take on board to improve, get to major tournaments and get out of the groups at the next one hopefully.
“That’s the ambition and the goal so you never lose sight of continuing to improve. As footballers, you never know everything, so you can always improve.
“There has been so many [great memories]. Kenny McLean’s goal away in Norway was amazing and I thought he was amazing that day as well.
“The two goals at home against Spain spring to mind, and getting to the major tournaments.
“I’m hungry for more and for this group I think we can restart and kick on from here.
“It’s very important to stay where we are in this competition because we see ourselves as a very good team capable of playing against the best teams in the world.
“For us, we have to be better against the top sides but we’re getting more confident of doing that.
“We feel we can play against these teams and give it a good go.”
McTominay of course showed all of his experience as he calmly tucked away the penalty in Piraeus that gives the Scots their 1-0 advantage heading into this second leg, though he said he was blissfully ignorant of the laser pens shining on his face from the home end as he stepped up to the mark.
“I wasn’t aware of it, to be honest,” he said.
“I didn’t realise it, but I had realised it during the game because it was being flashed around, but for the penalty, I didn’t know about it, even though it didn’t look like that on television. You have to be focused on not let anything get in the way.
“You have to be confident, get up there and take them when that is your responsibility. I take a lot of penalties in training, over and over again as repetition, so it’s nothing new to me. I am quite calm in situations like that anyway, it doesn’t tend to play on my mind and make me think too much.
“It’s about putting the ball in the back of the net and knowing how the goalkeeper likes to move. It is something I enjoy doing.”
