Fletch: ‘Scots squad believe in Strachan’
VOTES of confidence are easier to give than receive, those on the end of the support knowing full well it is often a precursor to parting.
Yet as Darren Fletcher stood to deliver what he insisted was not only his, but the whole Scotland squad’s endorsement of Gordon Strachan late on Friday his discomfort was palpable.
“It’s not easy to talk when you feel like you’ve done well in games and you’ve lost 3-0,” he said.
“I’d be disappointed if Gordon decided he has had enough.
“I know for a fact I speak for the rest of the dressing room, and that we enjoy working with the manager.
“The results haven’t reflected how good a manager he is, and how much we play for him.
“He’s given everything for the team. And the team have given everything for him. We are just not getting the rewards.”
No one is better placed to talk about effort and commitment than Fletcher.
The 32-year-old has battled his way back into the side from serious illness, handling a move from Manchester United – where he had been for 12 years and more than 200 games – to the less glamorous surroundings of West Brom.
When Scotland last met England at Wembley in a friendly in 2013, trying to stay awake in his hospital bed to watch the game was the extent of his physical ambition.
But he was back in the thick of it on Friday night, and the passionate Scot could barely conceal his frustration, almost anger, at the result.
“That was never a 3-0 game,” he said. “It is really, really disappointing – but we have to take it.
“We are the ones who’ll be criticised. It’s not easy, it’s devastating.
“The only thing we can hope is people realise how close a game it was, and that it was decided by them being more clinical with their chances.
“I think they scored almost every chance they had, and at crucial points.
“We missed our chances at crucial points. That’s the game, really.
“The last 10 minutes, when they’re passing the ball about and, at the same time, we were making sure that they don’t score a fourth, which would’ve been really hard to take, are irrelevant.”
Of more concern to the Tartan Army will be what happens in the four months between now and the visit of Slovenia for the next qualifier, specifically with regard to Strachan.
“I don’t worry about the manager because he’s a good man,” endorsed Fletcher.
“He enjoys working with the players, he’s passionate to do well for his country and I’ve so much respect and time for him that I believe, he believes in the players.
“Let’s keep it going.”