Scotland manager Sebastien Pocognoli says leading the national team for the first time in this afternoon’s Nations League meeting with Slovenia will be an immensely proud moment.
The 39-year-old Belgian was appointed last month, becoming Scotland’s first overseas head coach since Berti Vogts’ unsuccessful spell more than two decades ago.
Pocognoli has promised to introduce a more progressive, attack-minded style while also giving Scotland’s emerging young players greater opportunities.
Scotland head into the Ljubljana fixture as favourites. They sit 14 places above Slovenia in the FIFA rankings, while the hosts will also be without Manchester United forward Benjamin Sesko.
Pocognoli will join in with the national anthem, Flower of Scotland, before kick-off and admits taking charge of the side will rank among the proudest occasions of his career.
“I will feel many things,” he said. “I will be proud, excited and nervous, but in a positive way. I spoke about that today with some of the players who could be winning their first cap.
Sebastien Pocognoli is relishing the chance to take charge of Scotland for the first time this afternoon
“The captain may feel some nerves too because this is the first match under a new manager and with a new dynamic.
“The challenge is to turn those emotions into something positive once the game begins. Whether we score first or concede first, it will be a demanding experience in our opening match with a new coach.
“It is a huge day. I am representing Scotland, and that means a great deal to me. You are representing an entire country, and I understand the importance of that. I am very proud to have this responsibility.
“I have to remain focused and balanced, with the emotion kept under control. But I am extremely proud.
“I have come to your country, so I must remain humble. My priority is to achieve success. That is the most important thing for me.
“I have a very good feeling. I hope I am in the right place at the right time, and that we can enjoy this journey together.”
Pocognoli is expected to deploy a 3-4-2-1 formation. His revamped squad includes more than a dozen players who did not feature at the World Cup this summer, including eight who have yet to win a cap.
After a week-long training camp in La Manga, the new manager believes Scotland are ready to start putting his footballing principles into practice.
Pocognoli was encouraged by the commitment shown by his players during the La Manga training camp
Scotland will return home to face Switzerland at Hampden on Tuesday night. They then travel to play North Macedonia before completing the four-match run against Slovenia at Hampden.
“We had four days in which we tried to cover everything in a creative way,” Pocognoli said. “We are satisfied with the work we have done.
“The training sessions were productive, and our team meetings carried the same mental intensity as the work on the pitch. We had to strike the right balance and avoid placing too much demand on the players.
“We also made sure they had time to breathe because, ultimately, this is a human project. The players need to feel good when they step onto the pitch.”
‘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.’
