SKIPPER NEEDS MORE SUPPORT
Mulgrew warns that Robertson could suffer like Fletcher did if his team-mates are unable to up their own game and shoulder some of the responsibility
CHARLIE MULGREW insists others must rise up and take their share of the load before Andy Robertson starts to suffer under the weight of a nation’s expectations just like former Scotland captain Darren Fletcher. Robertson, by his own admission, looked a shadow of the man who won the Champions League with Liverpool last season when proving powerless to stop Steve Clarke’s side sliding to a meek 2-1 Euro 2020 loss to Russia at Hampden on Friday.
He also cut a deeply frustrated figure immediately after the final whistle, expressing an inability to understand why the entire side had looked ‘scared’ after going a goal up after 10 minutes through John McGinn.
Like Robertson, Fletcher scaled the heights at the highest level during a terrific career with Manchester United. However, when it came to playing for his country, he often put too much pressure on himself to be the kind of all-action midfielder he never was at Old Trafford.
Whether through trying too hard or not, national-team skipper Robertson has also found it hard to replicate his glorious club form at international level and Mulgrew insists his team-mates must help him deal with the unique pressures of being the flagbearer an entire fanbase looks towards for inspiration.
‘That is naturally going to be the situation,’ said the Wigan centrehalf. ‘It was similar when we had Darren Fletcher when he was at Man United. People expected miracles, but it is up to us to get up to the level to help Robbo. It isn’t his responsibility.
‘There is a lot of pressure on Robbo. He is a Champions League winner and captain of the nation. But he handles that type of pressure week in, week out for Liverpool. He is a top player and one we are glad to have.
‘It is a team game and, if we are all doing well, he will shine. I am confident of that.’
Fletcher was more than 50 caps into his 80-cap international career before he admitted that he tended to go into Scotland matches believing he had to be a real-life Roy of the Rovers.
It took a long time for him to escape from that sense of stifling expectation and could probably be considered one reason why he always found it tricky to live up to the demands of the Tartan Army.
‘I think I did almost try too hard in some respects to make things happen, to try more difficult passes and be the one who had to create something — because if I didn’t, it wasn’t going to happen,’ conceded Fletcher during the course of the failed Euro 2012 qualifying campaign. ‘I’ve got older, matured and trusted the lads around me more. I don’t feel the Roy-of-the-Rovers mentality — when all the pressure’s on you — because I’m surrounded by quality players.’
Of course, trust remains an issue for everyone within the national set-up as new national coach Steve Clarke endeavours to figure out his best starting XI in the build-up to next March’s Nations League semifinal following the conclusion of Group I. Asked how far Scotland are away from settling on the best personnel to reach the Euro 2020 finals they will, co-host, Mulgrew replied: ‘I don’t know. It’s hard to think of that just now.’ Defence is a major issue with no established centre-back pairing. At right-back, Stephen O’Donnell has to cope with going from SPFL action with Kilmarnock to taking on some of the best players in the world. There is plenty of available talent in midfield, but no clear indication, as yet, of the most effective combination. As for up front, Oli McBurnie has so far failed to take advantage of the continued absence of Leigh Griffiths, Steven Naismith needs to prove his fitness, Steven Fletcher doesn’t seem to want to play and Oliver Burke is again trying to rebuild his career on loan from West Brom at Spanish side Alaves. Mulgrew points out that Clarke needs time to really put his own mark on the national team, but admits that is no excuse for the way the side blew it against Russia. ‘It is early days for the manager and he is probably figuring out the best people to play,’ he said. ‘It doesn’t change the fact we had a good start against Russia, but didn’t continue it. It was a difficult night. ‘We knew we had to win the game, that it was a must-win for us. We felt we could win it even though we knew they had a good side and we now just have to respond on Monday against Belgium. ‘It is not easy to get over the disappointment, but, as a footballer, you need to move on quickly.’