MISTER MOTIVATOR

Strachan pep talk a winner with title-chasing Warriors

GLASGOW Warriors head coach Gregor Townsend has turned to Gordon Strachan for advice and inspiration as his side attempt to retain their Pro12 title.

The Scotland manager was special guest at the club’s Scotstoun base yesterday when he talked to the players ahead of tonight’s home match against Zebre, in which victory will ensure Warriors’ place in the end-of-season play-offs.

With just two games of the regular season left, Townsend brought Strachan in specifically to freshen up preparations ahead of the game and to have a new voice passing on advice at a crucial stage of their campaign.

The ex-Celtic boss gave tips to the likes of Finn Russell and Tommy Seymour on how to deal with the pressure of league run-ins, in between regaling them with dressing-room tales from his illustrious career as a player with Manchester United, Leeds United and Aberdeen.

It isn’t the first time Townsend has sought inspiration from football. Last year he spent three days at the Nou Camp studying Barcelona’s strength and conditioning programme, as well as their coaching methods.

Hearts manager Robbie Neilson and Partick Thistle’s Alan Archibald have also visited Scotstoun, while former Scotland boss Craig Brown held a question and answer session with the Glasgow players.

‘Having Gordon here was an inspiration for the players and coaches,’ said Townsend. ‘He had us in stitches with stories that you definitely can’t tell anyone else and also told some really good, inspirational tales about what made Aberdeen and Leeds United tick.

‘He sat down with the players and told them what special memories being together at times like this can bring. He stressed that working together, winning together, and having a good time together, was the way to go. It was very inspirational.

‘He watched our training with Al Kellock from inside as it was snowing! To be fair, he doesn’t know a huge amount about rugby, although he knew a bit about Rugby League from his days with Leeds. In saying that, it was good that he managed to integrate with us and it showed the very good links we have with the SFA, which can only help us.

‘Rugby and football are much closer together now because of the professionalism and it’s great we’ve got this openness between both sports. I got a real insight from Gordon into Alex Ferguson, an insight into why the Leeds United environment was different and Gordon’s thoughts on modern-day football coaching and how it’s different coaching at club and international level.

‘The players asked some really good questions about how football has changed over the last 10 to 20 years, and got some good advice on how to deal with big matches, just as Gordon has had to do as a head coach and as a player.

‘Interestingly, he told the players that he felt at the top level, where money is irrelevant, a (Lionel) Messi or whoever, will still work as hard to improve