Defeat kept me awake
Eck needed sleeping pills after Israel loss
ALEX McLEISH has opened up on his suffering as Scotland boss and admitted he needed to pop a pill just to get a good night’s sleep after last week’s nightmare in Haifa.
The 59-year-old has come under fire since the 2-1 defeat in Israel on Thursday night which has undermined his chances of
qualifying for Euro 2020 through the side door of the Nations League.
And the stinging attacks were ramped up again on Sunday night when his team went down to a sixth loss in eight matches, crashing 3-1 at home to a second-string Portugal.
Now Eck has revealed the extent of the toll taken by his merciless detractors.
He said: “You feel as if the world is caving in on you then you get that thing the next day when you wake up after a halfdecent sleep thanks to a sleeping pill and go again. You pick yourself up.
“I know we’re coming under fire and the social network is rampant. I see all the cartoons and stuff and that’s not a world I want to go into.
“I’m aware some vitriolic things have been said. Listen, if you look at social media since time began it’s a place for that.
“Do I feel the heat? God, aye – of course you do. I don’t think I’d be human if I didn’t feel it over the weekend. That was pretty horrible and then we knew we were facing Portugal.”
But McLeish is adamant he can turn Scotland’s fortunes around as soon as next month when the Nations League campaign comes to a climax against Albania and Israel.
He said: “I still have ambitions and I take the inspiration off some of the managers who have gone through similar times. That’s why I feel there’s a future for us.
“That’s got to be the way we look at it and go for the next game. There is no hiding place. That’s where we have to do it. We will have a look at whether or not this system against Portugal is better than the one used against Albania and Israel.”
McLeish ditched his three-at-the-back system on Sunday and, despite the defeat, there were signs Scotland’s players looked more comfortable in a 4-2-3-1.
He said: “It was a good shape, compact and we controlled the first half with their guys in wide area. Our full-backs dealt with things well and there was good discipline.
“It looked good. I’m not blind and not daft. We have persevered with the three and it didn’t work in Israel but I don’t think that was the main problem.
“The players have told me they could have done better. We’ve all done that and the next game is the target to make it better.”
And McLeish insists the spirit inside Scotland’s camp has not been damaged by poor results, a raft of withdrawals and Leigh Griffiths’s absence.
He said: “There is a good camaraderie, over the get-togethers I’ve seen that. The Griffiths one is remarkable how it gets blown up. I spoke to Leigh and we had an amicable conversation.”