Last year, Scott McTominay had a discussion with Scotland’s manager, Steve Clarke, which made him realize that he was unhappy with his lack of playing time for Manchester United. This conversation sparked a remarkable period of success for McTominay both at his club and for his country.
Over the course of the next year, McTominay has gotten seven goals in eight European qualifiers for the 2024 tournament, with two of those goals coming in the 2-0 triumph over Spain at Hampden Park on March 28th, 2023. This comes after he also scored a double in the 3-0 win against Cyprus three days prior, which was the first qualifier and his first match after discussing his attitude with Clarke.
McTominay recalled a conversation with the manager at the camp where he was told that he didn’t seem happy or joyful about the environment. He took their words into consideration and consulted with his family and girlfriend, who all echoed the same sentiment.
At that juncture, McTominay’s last Premier League start for United had been two months earlier – a 3-2 loss at Arsenal on 22 January – with his two other starts in the year the FA Cup wins over West Ham and Fulham earlier in March. The 27-year-old has featured more for United in the proceeding 12 months and this season has scored nine goals in 34 appearances for Erik ten Hag’s side, making him the club’s second top scorer, behind Rasmus Højlund.
McTominay expressed that it’s important to simply have fun and approach football with a positive attitude, without stressing too much about performance or being on the team.”
After my conversation with Clarke, I was inspired to pursue my goals with renewed determination. Speaking to him was a relief and showed me the impact that honest communication can have. He reminded me of the carefree attitude I had as a young player, always happy and playing regularly. Looking back now, I realize that the pressure and expectations can weigh heavily on us without us even realizing it. Sometimes, we need to take a step back and remember to simply enjoy playing the game, just like we did when we were kids.
When asked about the connection between his recent improvement in Manchester United and his performances for Scotland, McTominay replied that every time he plays well and the team wins, it makes a positive impact. This applies regardless of whether he scores, assists, or keeps a clean sheet. Winning and playing well as a team brings a boost to everyone.
McTominay’s performance on the international stage has earned him the title of Scottish Football Writers’ Association’s men’s international player of the year. Reflecting on this achievement, he expressed that receiving this honor is particularly meaningful to him due to the remarkable players who have represented Scotland in the past and the privilege of following in their footsteps.
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Scotland have failed to win any of their last six games, with Friday’s 4-0 loss to the Netherlands a low point. After dominating the first half in Amsterdam they conceded three second-half goals in the space of 14 minutes. Clarke’s men host Northern Ireland on Tuesday at Hampden Park and McTominay is sure they will soon reverse their form.
“We will have a few upcoming games where people will come to realize that we are capable of scoring three or four goals, and suddenly the narrative changes,” he stated. “Do not be taken aback when we face a significant opponent and convert our opportunities. Improving our execution is something we must work on, but it could greatly impact our results. A few teams may be caught off guard.”
“During the initial 70 minutes of the game against the Netherlands, our performance was satisfactory. However, we failed to score despite having multiple chances. It is crucial to convert these opportunities into goals, and there is no room for excuses or uncertainty. This applies to all of us, including myself.”
Source: theguardian.com
