Put boot in if you like but I won’t flinch
Eck comes out fighting after shambles in Israel
UNDER-FIRE Alex McLeish says the storm of criticism smashing on to him has merely fuelled his desire to shut up the snipers and revive Scotland’s flagging fortunes.
The boss and his squad are under severe scrutiny following the harrowing Haifa defeat by Israel.
McLeish is facing intense flak after a fifth defeat in seven games since taking charge for a second time left qualification for the Nations League play-offs hanging in the balance.
The manager accepts he’s getting a kicking but is adamant he won’t be broken by the flurry of boots. McLeish
believes it’s in his genes to fight and scrap when backed into a corner and has vowed to face the challenges and condemnation head on.
He said: “You get kicked and say, ‘I’m going to show everybody.’
“I need to bounce back and the players need to bounce back.
“I’ve never flinched from a challenge and I’m not going to start now. No way.
“The more criticism I get the more determined I will be to turn it around.
“I’m determined to see it through and get the team to the level where you guys all like it and the supporters especially.
“That’s my challenge and I have never flinched from a challenge.
“When people put the boot in I tend to bounce back.”
McLeish admitted Israel hurt him and reminded him of the sour feelings management can bring.
He added: “It does. It’s in my DNA. I’m a masochist.
“I will probably hear about the criticism coming my way. If there is good information there for me to take then of course you can always take that.”
McLeish and the squad returned from Tel Aviv Airport yesterday afternoon and are now back at their Edinburgh base preparing for tomorrow’s friendly against Portugal at Hampden.
Big Eck is looking for a response from his players and said: “We’ve slipped down the rankings over a number of years and we have a lot of clawing back to do.
“Some of it will be clawing back and some of it we hope will see us produce the football we want to see. We want to win.”