- Published
Scotland head coach Sebastien Pocognoli admits to feeling a "positive nervousness" before his first game in charge of the country, a Nations League tie against Slovenia in Ljubljana on Saturday.
asserted
Pocognoli → publish → Saturday
The Belgian was appointed in August, replacing Steve Clarke, whose seven-year tenure ended after Scotland's exit at the group stages of the World Cup.
asserted
tenure → appoint → Cup
Pocognoli starts with four Nations League matches across 11 days, with the trip to Slovenia followed by Switzerland at Hampden, a fixture in North Macedonia, then a return meeting with the Slovenes in Glasgow.
asserted
trip → start → Glasgow
"If we talk about nerves, yes, but it's a positive nervousness," he told BBC Sport Scotland.
asserted
he → talk → nerves
"We have a job with responsibility.
asserted
We → have → responsibility
Scotland are currently at a warm weather camp in La Manga, Spain with a much-changed squad.
asserted
Scotland → change → squad
Pocognoli has picked a 19-year-old in James Wilson, four 20-year-olds - Findlay Curtis, Ben Gannon-Doak, Lennon Miller and Colby Donovan - and another three aged 22 - Kristi Montgomery, Luke Graham and Robbie Ure.
asserted
Pocognoli → pick → Wilson
With Blackburn's Montgomery replacing the injured Kenny McLean, there are now eight uncapped players in the squad.
asserted
Montgomery → replace → squad
"It's a lot of new faces, so it's a challenge to find the right balance, to keep the cohesion in the team," Pocognoli said.
asserted
Pocognoli → find → team
The manager says he knows his team and his formation for the Slovenia game but is not wedded to any particular system, although playing three at the back has been a staple of his coaching to this point.
asserted
playing → say → point
"I always think the players select themselves," he added.
asserted
he → think → themselves
"We have four games, so we need to plan.
asserted
we → have → games
We need to have a periodisation [managing training loads, games and recovery] about the tactical aspect and the physical aspect.
asserted
We → need → aspect
We're ready for the four games in terms of what kind of approach we want to give."
asserted
we → want → approach
Pocognoli revealed he has had a conversation with his predecessor, Clarke - "a nice meeting on the phone," as he put it.
asserted
he → reveal → it
It just was to let me know that he's behind the team.
asserted
he → let → team
He was very happy [in his time in the job] but he also felt that it was the right time [to leave].
asserted
it → feel → job
He wished me all the best.
asserted
He → wish → best
"I will try to be as successful as the previous staff because we want to play in a big tournament.
asserted
we → try → tournament
We want to create this moment for the country."
asserted
We → want → country
Asked if his brand of football will involve more risk and adventure than Clarke's, he said: "We have to find the right balance because if you play fantastic football and you don't qualify you get some criticism."
asserted
you → ask → criticism
He says that it might take a while for cohesion to be achieved but there are certain things that he wants to see straight away against Slovenia.
uncertain
he → say → Slovenia
"For me, it's about the personality of the players," he added.
asserted
he → add → players
"I like a unit team who are just fighting for each other.
asserted
who → like → other
"It's a basic principle - attack together and squeeze the pitch.
asserted
It → attack → pitch
When we need to defend, it's just to defend like brothers.
asserted
it → need → brothers
When we lose the ball, it's try to regain the ball as quickly as possible.
asserted
it → lose → ball
"From that, there are a lot of other principles, but that's the base.
asserted
that → be → principles
If you cannot get this, you will never have good principles on the pitch.
asserted
you → get → pitch
"So good so far," Pocognoli said about what he has seen in La Manga.
asserted
he → say → Manga
"But we need to get the response through the games.
asserted
we → need → games
It's up to them to perform well, but it's up to me to make them perform well."
asserted
them → perform → me
The Aporia
