Scotland boss Sebastien Pocognoli insists he will be bursting with pride as he takes charge of the team for the first time in today’s Nations League clash with Slovenia.
The 39-year-old Belgian was appointed last month as Scotland’s first foreign head coach since the ill-fated reign of Berti Vogts over 20 years ago.
Pocognoli has vowed to deliver a more progressive and attacking brand of football with Scotland as well as bringing through a younger generation of players.
Against a Slovenian team ranked 14 places below them in the FIFA rankings, and also without Manchester United star Benjamin Sesko, Scotland start as favourites to win in Ljubljana.
Pocognoli, who will sing Flower of Scotland when the anthems are played pre-match, insists it will be one of the proudest moments of his career.
‘I will feel many things,’ he said. ‘I will be proud, excited, nervous — in a positive way. I touched on this today with some of the lads who will potentially get their first cap.
Sebastien Pocognoli is looking forward to his first outing in the Scotland dugout this afternoon
‘But I think also the captain could be a little bit nervous because it’s the first game with a new dynamic.
‘It’s to try and bring this as a positive when the game starts. Whether you score first or concede first, it’s something challenging to go through when it’s the first game with a new gaffer.
‘It’s a big day. I’m going to represent Scotland and, for me, it’s massive. You’re representing the country. I know how big that is and I know how proud I am to do this.
‘I need to stay aligned and to stay balanced. I need to keep the emotion on the side. But I’m very proud.
‘I have come to your country, I have to stay humble, and I just want to be successful. That’s the main topic for me.
‘I have quite a good feeling and I hope I’m in the right place at the right moment. I hope we are going to have a good time together.’
Pocognoli is expected to favour a 3-4-2-1 system and a new-look squad features over a dozen players who were not at the World Cup in the summer, eight of whom are uncapped.
Having spent the past week at a training camp in La Manga, he is confident his players can begin to implement his ideas.
Pocognoli was pleased with his players’ application during the training camp in La Manga
After Slovenia, Scotland face Switzerland at Hampden on Tuesday night. They will then take on North Macedonia away from home, before rounding off the quadruple-header against the Slovenians back at Hampden.
‘We had four days where we tried to do everything we could in a creative way,’ continued Pocognoli. ‘We feel good about the work we have done.
‘We built good sessions and the team meetings were also like training sessions because they bring mental intensity. We had to find the right balance and make sure we didn’t overload the players.
‘We gave them moments to breathe a little bit because at the end of the day it’s a human project. The players on the pitch need to feel well.
‘We have taken a different approach but I know how the players are feeling right now. It was principled but the details are created by the players themselves. I think the players are ready.
‘I don’t expect everything to be perfect, especially on the ball. But, step by step, we need to find the right balance, by being clinical and try to win the game because that is the most important thing.
‘If you look at how my previous teams played, you will see a high, front-foot team on the pitch. So I hope we can see this in the game.’
One of the key decisions facing Pocognoli will be around who he chooses to start up front, with Oli McBurnie, Kieron Bowie and Robbie Ure all vying for the jersey.
Oli McBurnie aims to impress the new boss after a five-year spell away from the national team
Hull City striker McBurnie is back in the fold after five years in the international wilderness and has spoken this week about a desire to make a fresh start and give a better impression of himself with the national team.
The 30-year-old failed to find the net in 16 caps previously but the new head coach believes this is the ideal chance for a fresh start.
‘Oli was very good in the camp — very humble and very quiet — but a hard worker on the pitch,’ said Pocognoli. ‘He has a good bond with the lads.
‘Honestly, I didn’t pay too much attention to him because of what happened in the past. I wasn’t there so I don’t know but I heard things. But he’s a tough worker on the pitch and he likes a joke outside of the pitch. He is very professional as well.
‘It is exciting because he feels this is a moment to prove himself and, yeah, maybe to give something back for many reasons. That’s only positive.’
