No sleep less nights and boss es’ support saw glass through
Stephen Glass says he has come through the football version of “what doesn’t kill you, only makes you stronger”.
The Aberdeen manager was widely expected to lose his job last month after his side crashed to defeat at Dundee.
It was the Dons’ fifth successive reverse in the league, a run that came in the wake of wounding exits from both the League Cup and the Europa Conference League.
Pittodrie chairman, Dave Cormack, was unmoved, though, and doubled down on his support for the man he appointed, insisting the club did not intend to replace him.
And, having seen his players do their bit on the pitch with wins over Hibs and Hearts, Glass has arrived at the end of November feeling more secure in himself.
Losses to Motherwell and Dundee United have been a setback. But he is convinced the players and his coaches are on the right track.
“I had a lot of messages from really-experienced managers, saying that it is the tough times which make you a manager,” said Glass.
“I think that’s true because if everything is smooth, you’re not going to improve and get better.
“It is how you handle the difficult times.
“Probably the biggest lesson is that I believe in what we do, and you have to have that unerring belief in what you do.
“We went through a really difficult spell, but I actually slept the nights we were getting beaten because I felt we were doing the right things.
“That sounds crazy because you can’t stop thinking about it.
“But even when you’re winning, it’s thinking about what we could be doing better.
“The nights we lost, I think we highlighted individual bits and pieces, but the team were doing OK.
“I talked about not burying our heads in the sand. But I think if you can go to your bed at night and sleep, then you’re doing the right things.
“There’s that comfort level. The people I’m working with are good at their jobs, and the players are fantastic.
“I know we are capable of more than we’re getting – and we deserve more than we’re getting.
“But we are not feeling sorry for ourselves, which is important.
“We are the only ones who can turn it around – and I’m certain we will.”
Glass expects to be active in the January transfer window.
“We will change bits and pieces, I think, depending on some of the lads that have not been playing that choose to ask away, or if other clubs might like our players,” he said.
“There are not going to be huge changes like there were in the summer. But it is the next opportunity to make changes, so that is important for us.”