WE’LL APPLY MATT FINISH
Pavel: We’ll kill off Scots
probably, but this is just how people evolve. My children have a completely different lifestyle to the one I had when I was growing up. “It’s just the nature of human evolution.
“You probably could shout and bawl at them if you were angry enough but you’ve just never seen me angry!
“Sometimes you can use it as a little shock and awe tactic.
“It’s not something I use very often. I think in my time at Kilmarnock I only used it two or three times.
“You have to work with the players, you have to reason with them and always be honest with them. You don’t have to shout at people to be honest with them.
“As long as you have a good relationship with them that’s what matters. Everybody is going to be upset after a game like Friday’s. They’ll be upset with each other and have a little shout at each other.
“That’s what happens in a dressing room full of grown-up men with a lot of testosterone flying around.”
In between match night calamities, Clarke is using the little time he has to get his own tactical messages across.
He said: “I’ve only had time for eight tactical sessions in four months with the players and that’s difficult.
“But somehow you have to find a way to short circuit it. At the moment that’s what I’m looking at.
“I’m trying to find a way to short circuit the big, long process where you get to know players on a day-to-day basis.
“Hopefully over a period of time you will see that things get better.” MATT PHILLIPS insists Scotland can find the right mentality to get back to major tournaments.
Steve Clarke’s team go into tonight’s clash with Belgium as rank outsiders to qualify automatically from Group I.
The Scots are six points behind second-placed Russia after they inflicted a damaging defeat on the hosts on Friday night.
Losing the contest was a big blow for Clarke and his troops but the manner of the defeat caused more disillusionment and worry among the supporters.
Lack of belief seeped through the squad during the game and contributed to the morale-sapping reverse.
Phillips though says the players will speak about the situation among themselves and with the coaching staff to find the key to instilling the mentality needed to take the next steps.
He said: “It was a really good start against Russia. We scored, we were playing well and then we dropped off. It was always going to be difficult to continue doing what we were doing.
“A lot of us come up against the best players in the world every week in the league that we are in. We have got to believe in ourselves and go into the game trying to take some of the positives.
“It is hard to keep the high pressing going but we have to go away and have a look at it. We have to believe and we’ll see what happens. It is all we can do. We have to go and try to put right what went wrong on Friday night.
“There were positives. Some of the stuff in the first half was really good. It was a mentality that we PAVEL KOLOBKOV insists Russia will kill off Scotland’s qualifying hopes if they beat Kazakhstan tonight.
The sports minister is confident his country have already done enough to make Euro 2020 even with four games left to play.
With the Scots six points off automatic qualification after their 2-1 loss to the dropped off too much and invited them on to us.
“It will be something we will look at in meetings. There will be an analysis and we can see where we went wrong.”
Belgium’s arrival does nothing to ease the strain around the Scots camp.
The group leaders are charging to the finals and had an unblemished record as they go into tonight’s Hampden clash.
But the Baggies ace is adamant the players will give it everything to restore their pride and credibility with a huge performance.
Phillips said: “Why not? We have got to believe in ourselves and go into the game with confidence and believe in what we are doing it. There was positive aspects on Friday night and we have got to try to focus on that.
“I don’t think there is any difficulty in keeping the motivation. We are playing for a place at a major tournament and everyone is still looking towards that.”
Phillips is hoping for a start against the Belgians. Oli McBurnie was handed the striking role against Russia but the Hawthorns star is hopeful of a call and said: “That is down to the manager. No matter what I will support the boys and be ready if I am asked.” Russians and facing off against leaders Belgium this evening, Kolobkov’s prediction seems likely.
He said: “If we beat Kazakhstan it practically guarantees our spot at the Euros. We can then start preparing for the finals.
“We’re almost there as it stands, our performances have been excellent.” LAND... COME ON SCOTLAND... COME ON SCOTLAND... COME ON SCOTLAND... COME ON SCOTLAND... COME ON SCOTLAND... COME ON SCOTLAND... COME ON SCOTLAND... COME ON SCOTLAND... COME ON SCOTLAND... COME ON