The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Interim boss dismisses criticism of selections
Boss Mackay defends under-fire Dons – and says the players deserve respect as professional footballers
Aberdeen midfielders Kenny McLean and Ryan Christie will both start for Scotland against the Netherlands at Pittodrie tonight.
Interim manager Malky Mackay, however, hit back at suggestions that the Dons players were only in his squad to help sell tickets.
That suggestion was made by Kilmarnock forward Kris Boyd, the 18-times capped international, who claimed the inclusion of Aberdeen players Graeme Shinnie, McLean and Christie had made Scotland “a laughing stock.”
Boyd was also critical of the inclusion of former Dons captain Ryan Jack, now with Rangers, saying the 25-year-old has had “more red cards than good games” for the Ibrox side.
But Mackay, speaking at Pittodrie last night, branded the comments from Boyd as disrespectful.
He said: “Well, 10 days ago when we announced the squad, most of what came back to me was that it was a fresh squad.
“People were upbeat about it, also the fact there were players in it playing at a good level.
“Scottish players playing here at a good level were being given a chance.
“There’s always going to be somebody who’s going to want to make the opposite opinion.”
“Like everything, what I’d say is when we’re talking about the Aberdeen players and selling tickets, two of the three are going to start the game,” revealed Mackay.
“Anyone who knows me is aware I’m never going to put a team out on the pitch to sell tickets.
“So, the actual players going out there are desperate to play, they desperately want to play for their country and they desperately want to win the game. “We want to win the game. “They are all playing at a good level, they are all professional footballers, they deserve that respect. They are playing at the top of Scottish football for their clubs on a regular basis. They deserve that respect.
“Players get criticised every week, media, social media, whatever it may be.
“The players who trained this week have been terrific, with some guys coming back to their home city. How good is that?
“So, absolutely not, I don’t see them being affected. It’s water off a duck’s back. I’ve not felt the need to speak to them. It’s part of the whole thing.”
A healthy turnout is expected from supporters and Mackay hopes the fans will leave Pittodrie this evening encouraged for the future.
He added: “I want people to leave thinking that we have some young players they are excited to see again, that they can see talent and they can see why they have been picked for Scotland.
“That they can see going into the next game in March and beyond there is a framework of boys who can go and play a long time for Scotland and kick us on into the next campaign.”
Mackay hopes former Aberdeen captain Ryan Jack does not receive a hostile reception on his return to Pittodrie.
Tonight will be the first time the midfielder has played at Pittodrie since moving to Rangers in the summer.
Mackay was surprised by the suggestion that Jack could be jeered by his own support – and hopes he receives a warm welcome from the crowd.
He said: “He will be targeted? Footballers have to deal with everything.
“They deal with everything everywhere they go. He is not the first player to go back to his home town.
“What I would say is, it is Scotland here and not Aberdeen – there will be a lot of Aberdeen fans here but it is Scotland here and I would love Scotland fans to cheer Scotland players.”
Mackay confirmed Celtic captain Scott Brown will miss the match due to injury but refused to say who will don the armband in his absence.
He said: “I haven’t told them yet but I know who it will be.
“Unfortunately, Scott Brown is injured. He has had a recurrence of something we have been nursing him through.
“He won’t be able to play. He has been terrific around the squad. He has trained with us but unfortunately he is not going to make it. He will be with me all the way through.”
After last month’s failure to qualify for the World Cup play-offs, Mackay hopes the national team can lift the mood with a victory against the Netherlands.
He added: “It is not all doom and gloom. The group was picked to show there is young talent in Scotland coming through.
“We have to give them the best chance. Plenty people constantly knock Scottish football into the gutter and eventually there might be a point when it never recovers – we might be halfway there already.
“People have got to try and keep the balance and keep pushing forward. There are enough people criticising between lots of different areas – but I am on the other side of that.
“I see talent in Scotland. Everyone needs a hand, unless you are exceptional. I will certainly be one of those actually helping Scottish players, along with my coaches and their club coaches, to give them a chance to kick on.”
Anyone who knows me is aware I’m never going to put a team out on the pitch to sell tickets. The players going out there are desperate to play. MALKY MACKAY