Robertson Calls for Scotland to Give Fans Something to Believe In

Scotland captain Andy Robertson has stated that the team must give the Tartan Army more to cheer about, acknowledging the frustration evident among supporters following a recent defeat to Slovenia. The loss saw some fans leaving Hampden before the final whistle and others booing the team off the pitch.

Robertson emphasized that fan reactions are directly tied to the players' on-field performance. He noted that while crowds can be enthusiastic before a game, frustration mounts if the team is under pressure, makes mistakes, or struggles to maintain possession. "It’s on us to start well, start better, do the right things," Robertson said.

He specifically pointed to the start of the second half against Slovenia, where an early defensive lapse after taking a 1-0 lead contributed to further frustration. "The fans are then going to be even more frustrated and everything like that. So, for me, it’s completely understandable when we perform like that," he added. Robertson expressed hope that positive play would, in turn, encourage fan support.

Despite a more encouraging first half, Scotland faltered in the second, a performance Robertson felt was difficult to excuse. While reluctant to offer mitigating factors, he suggested that playing four games in 11 days might have been a contributing element. However, he also noted that the opposing team had the same schedule and appeared fresher. "For me, there’s not really an excuse there. There’s not really an argument, because we’re playing against a team that had the exact same schedule as us," he stated.

Under manager Sebastien Pocognoli, who replaced Steve Clarke, Scotland aims for a more attacking, front-foot style of football. Robertson believes patience is required as the team adapts to the new approach. He recalled that initial results under Steve Clarke also led to fan frustration. "But us inside the changing room, we have to keep believing and we do," Robertson said.

Robertson highlighted the intensive work done over the past two-and-a-half weeks to implement the manager's vision. He feels the team showed glimpses of this against North Macedonia and needs to achieve consistency. The squad has been refreshed with new players, and the focus is now on gelling as a team, both on and off the pitch. He sees the recent period as vital for integrating younger players and giving them experience at the international level. "This has been a really intense period and they’ve been thrown in at the deep end," he commented. Robertson expressed confidence that this experience will benefit the squad for future qualifiers and tournaments, aiming to be a better team.