Zlatan prepared me for Scots
SLOVENIA star Miha Mevlja insists there is no way he will be fazed by facing Scotland after going toe to toe with a furious Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
The 26-year-old has enjoyed a sensational season with Rostov, turning out against Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid in the Champions League then Manchester United in the Europa League.
Mevlja said: “I have competed with Robert Lewandowski and Fernando Torres then in the Europa League I was against Ibrahimovic. These players are outstanding and you learn so much.
“They are magnificent professionals and come alive in big matches. That is the test you want.
“Even now my friends are all asking me, ‘What was it like to play against Zlatan? What MARK McGHEE admitted throwing himself back into Scotland duty has helped ease the pain of his Motherwell sacking – and he doesn’t want to lose a second job in successive months. Gordon Strachan’s side might be drinking at the last chance saloon but his assistant is just glad he isn’t out of the game and sipping a cappuccino in a swanky Sussex coffee shop. McGhee, like Scotland goalkeeping coach Jim Stewart who was axed by new Rangers boss Pedro Caixinha, paid the price for a poor run of results at Fir Park as his second spell in charge of the Steelmen came to an end. That’s why the 59-year-old has been grateful for the chance to work with his country again so quickly, building up to Sunday’s must-win World Cup qualifier against Slovenia at Hampden. The feeling is failure to get the win they need to stay in the hunt for a play-off place in Group F could spell the end for Strachan and McGhee and the assistant boss said: “I’ve only got one job now so I’d like to keep it. “What else can I say? I love this job. I love being involved. Even this morning I was out there watching the quality and tempo they train at. It’s just fantastic and I love being around it. “I would like to continue and as far as anything else around me is concerned I’m not in any negative frame of mind or any different to how I’ve ever been coming here. “I enjoy it and want to be here. It’s good to be part of it. The same has happened to a degree with Jim Stewart. I said to him it’s great to feel normal. “You are not out of the loop. I am on the East Sussex cappuchino trail now. It’s much better being here involved in football. I will think about club management again but certainly not before the summer.” McGhee was hit with a double whammy after his SFA employers imposed a six-game touchline ban over his conduct in Motherwell’s 7-2 defeat to Aberdeen but he shrugged that off. The former Scotland striker said: “Do you know, I’ve no idea what ban I got, what the actual number of games is. I have no interest in that. Leaving Motherwell I was very disappointed but I’ve been sacked six times now. I’ll get over it.” Scotland were jeered off the pitch following Wednesday’s 1-1 friendly draw against Canada at Easter Road but McGhee is convinced a win on Sunday can completely change the mood. That might be easier said than done against a side who are unbeaten in seven games, currently sit second in the group behind England and are bossed by Srecko Katanec who has scuppered Scotland in the past after inflicting defeat on George tricks does he use? What does he say?’ In truth, he was more angry with his own teammates than he was with me.”
Mevlja is hoping to add to his four caps at Hampden on Sunday. He added: “We expect a tough match but we will not be intimidated. I believe we have enough quality to reach the World Cup.
“A victory is the objective but a draw would not be so bad.”