Sebastien Pocognoli insists he’s not concerned about Oli McBurnie’s Scotland goal drought continuing.
Back on the international stage after a five-year exile, the Hull City forward has started each of the Belgian’s first three games in charge.
Despite some promising moments, the 30-year-old has been unable to claim his first goal in 19 appearances in Dark Blue.
Adamant that that statistic isn’t the only thing the forward should be judged by, though, Pocognoli doesn’t agree with those who contend that McBurnie had to score in the Nations League quadruple header to justify his selection.
‘I see it differently because I do not look to the past,’ said the manager. ‘For me, when he started it was like zero caps. Against Slovenia he had a great game. He should have scored once, he knows that, and against Switzerland it was difficult to judge.
‘But he produced something that the crowd appreciated. They saw that and they are now maybe more in love with each other — it was like a goal for him.
Oli McBurnie is without a goal for Scotland in 19 appearances
But the Hull City striker has still been effective in linking attacks while back in the fold
‘In Macedonia he produced a lot of good action to be dangerous and maybe he should have scored one if we gave him the cross, but that moment will arrive. I don’t make an issue out of it.’
Asked if it was only natural that McBurnie was desperate to get off the mark, Pocognoli added: ‘He was desperate to come back and so that is good.
‘He was desperate to show that he is proud to be there, that is OK. I just want to make sure that he is not just focused on that (goals).’
Scotland tackle Slovenia tonight after drawing 0-0 in Ljubljana in the opening match of the campaign, with a home loss to Switzerland and Saturday’s win over North Macedonia putting the side on four points at the midway point.
Keen to stress that the rematch with Slovenia will be much more challenging than the comfortable evening the players enjoyed in Skopje, Pocognoli added: ‘For me, it is just to confirm the good game we had.
‘At Hampden, we will maybe face a low block from Slovenia, like they did against Switzerland, so it means we need to be patient, we need to be smart also.
‘They are really strong on the counter, but we want to try to present to the crowd what our game plan is. The challenge is to stay patient against a low block and to stay focused against a very quick transition team.
‘Scotland fans are really emotional but they were really positive after Macedonia after we were really sad after Switzerland. We need to stay balanced and not be too emotional about a good win or a bad loss.
‘And in this game we have to stay with our feet on the ground because we will face a strong side. We might have to be patient. Sometimes the crowd might be pushing for us to produce more against a low block, but then we need to stay calm, keep the ball and be smart, because like I said, on the counter they are a strong side.’
Pocognoli’s Hampden bow last week was a damp squib with Jack Hendry sent off early against the Swiss as Scotland crashed 3-0.
Sebastien Pocognoli oversees training and is eyeing his first win at Hampden
While the side bounced back with a comfortable 2-0 win in North Macedonia, Scotland were again reduced to 10 men when Scott McKenna was sent off in the closing stages.
Keen to ensure the trend doesn’t continue against Slovenia, Pocognoli said: ‘I hope we can finish with 11 men. But yes, that was a “switch off” moment (in both matches). I’d say the first red card was a stricter red card that we tried to fix for the next game. We were more compact.
‘We have to learn because we cannot allow this in the future for the big games.’
For all the elongated international break hasn’t been universally popular, Pocognoli feels it’s allowed him the scope to put his ideas across to a new-look squad.
‘Yes, for me it’s been good that we’ve had such a long international break and to have three midweeks,’ said the 39-year-old.
‘The first week in La Manga was gold. It was used to get to know my group and get my ideas across. The whole thing has been a huge benefit to understand where I am and what I want to produce with the players.
‘It would maybe feel long if I had many meetings with the players and had them on the pitch for too many hours.
‘The players need a window when they are together off the pitch, enjoying each other’s company. So, our meetings weren’t too long. They were to the point, the same as the training sessions.
‘You also have to take care of the players who don’t play a lot and we gave them special attention.
‘All in all, it’s been a good camp. But I can imagine the coach of Switzerland, who just finished the World Cup with the same group of players, sees it differently. But I have been really happy.’
