Wales v Scotland: Craig Levein feels no added pressure

By STEPHEN HALLIDAY
Published on Friday 12 October 2012 00:20

SCOTLAND manager Craig Levein has denied tonight’s World Cup qualifier against Wales in Cardiff carries greater significance than any of his previous 22 games in charge.

Despite dropping four points in the opening two Group A games at home to Serbia and Macedonia last month, Levein is dismissive of claims he is now under greater strain to deliver a victory and revitalise hopes of qualification for the 2014 finals in Brazil.

“I don’t feel under any additional pressure,” insisted Levein. “Every manager is under pressure to get results and try and qualify. That’s part of the job. As much as the pressure increases when every competitive match comes around, the reason I took the job is to be involved in these situations. I’m not any more up or down than I have been in the recent games.”

Pressed as to whether tonight’s fixture is more vital as a consequence of the failure to win either of the first two games at home, Levein remained defiant. “No, not in my eyes it doesn’t,” he replied. “It’s another one which has three points attached to it. We will be treating this game as we have treated every one before.

“We have looked into the last game against Macedonia and how we performed. We looked at a lot of things we can do a hell of a lot better.

“But for me that’s the stuff that’s important, working on the stuff on the field that’s actually going to make a difference on the game. Me getting excited or getting worried about anything else is counter-productive. There is no point in that. There is no point in me going into the players and saying, ‘we need to win this game.’ What kind of psychology is that?

“I don’t think it does any good to talk about ‘what ifs?’ I know it’s a question you’ve got to ask me but I’m most interested in what the players are thinking.”

Taken from the Scotsman