Andy Robertson opens up on honest discussions with Clarke over Euros displays

SCOTLAND captain Andy Robertson has revealed he’s told Steve Clarke why we were dire at the Euros.

And other key players were also involved in open and honest discussions with Clarke over the massive anti-climax the finals in Germany became for a let-down nation.

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Now Robertson’s desperate to see a rejuventated Scotland team for the Nations League campaign – starting against Poland at an expected sold-out Hampden.

The left-back said: “I think it’s up to us to say how we felt on the pitch.

“The manager was very good, he asked me to say what we thought we could’ve done better.

“I said what I believed and then we had the discussion around certain things.

“But I think what was quite apparent was that within the first minute or two of the phone call, me and the manager were on the same page.

“I think we knew what went wrong in the build-up and what had gone wrong at the time.

“And then it was up to us, the manager, to go away and have a think about it.

“And he clearly did.

“Then he obviously wanted to phone me, he phoned a couple of the other players, he phoned his staff.

“So I think we were all just kind of sounding boards for him.

“It wasn’t anything bad.

“It was just, what mistakes did we all make?

“Was there collective mistakes? Was there individual mistakes made in the summer? Was there things that we can improve? Was there things that we need to maybe change?

“I think the manager was in a really good place when he phoned me. He was looking forward to what we could do next.

“And I think now we have to go and do that.

“I spoke to the manager a couple of times in the summer after the Euros had ended.

“But it’s up to him to make the final calls and it’s up to him to then look at how we move forward.

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“There has been a bit of a change in the backroom staff. Alan Irvine has come in with a bit more experience.

“He has been there and done it at some really good clubs.

“There are new players in, there are younger players in.
“So it is up to them to now show that they are good enough to play for Scotland.”

Robertson, poised to win his 75th cap against the Poles,  assured Clarke he’s still all-in for his country.

He said: “I can only say that both of us are committed to the national team.

“I want to play for Scotland as long as I can, as long as I’m good enough to get picked.

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“I’ll never shy away from that as long as I’m fit and as long as I’m healthy — and as long as I feel as if I can play at that level then I’ll continue to do so.”

Asked if he’d implored Clarke to go with a more attacking style, Robertson responded: “That’s on the manager and the coaches.

“That’s their job to work out how we can progress again — but we can also help, of course we can.

“The manager is very good at asking the experienced players what we think about certain situations.

“He wants to get to the World Cup, he’s made that clear.”

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