Pocognoli embraces 'positive nervousness' as fresh-faced Scotland era begins in Slovenia

Sebastien Pocognoli will walk out at Ljubljana's Stadion Stozice on Saturday carrying the hopes of a nation — and, by his own admission, a healthy dose of nerves.

The Belgian, appointed in August to replace Steve Clarke after the end of the former head coach's seven-year tenure, takes charge of Scotland for the first time in Saturday's Nations League clash with Slovenia (14:00 BST kick-off), and admits the emotions are running high ahead of his touchline debut.

'Positive nervousness'

"If we talk about nerves, yes, but it's a positive nervousness," Pocognoli told BBC Sport Scotland. "We have a job with responsibility. It's excitement and I'm just passionate about being on the touchline."

Pocognoli's opening assignment is a demanding one: four Nations League matches across 11 days, beginning with the trip to Slovenia, followed by Switzerland at Hampden, a fixture in North Macedonia, and then a return meeting with the Slovenes in Glasgow.

A new generation gets its chance

Scotland are currently at a warm-weather camp in La Manga, Spain with a much-changed squad as the new head coach assesses his options. The pool is strikingly young, featuring 19-year-old James Wilson, four 20-year-olds in Findlay Curtis, Ben Gannon-Doak, Lennon Miller and Colby Donovan, and another trio aged 22 — Kristi Montgomery, Luke Graham and Robbie Ure.

With Blackburn's Montgomery replacing the injured Kenny McLean, there are now eight uncapped players in the squad.

"It's a lot of new faces, so it's a challenge to find the right balance, to keep the cohesion in the team," Pocognoli said.

Flexibility over fixed formations

The manager says he knows his team and his formation for the Slovenia game, but is not wedded to any particular system — although playing three at the back has been a staple of his coaching to this point.

"I always think the players select themselves," he added. "We have four games, so we need to plan. We need to have a periodisation [managing training loads, games and recovery] about the tactical aspect and the physical aspect.

"This team can be flexible. We're ready for the four games in terms of what kind of approach we want to give."

Blessing from his predecessor

Pocognoli revealed he has spoken with his predecessor, Clarke, describing the conversation as "a nice meeting on the phone".

"He was very kind, very... humble. That was very helpful for me. It just was to let me know that he's behind the team. He was very happy [in his time in the job] but he also felt that it was the right time [to leave]. He wished me all the best.

"I will try to be as successful as the previous staff because we want to play in a big tournament. We want to create this moment for the country."

Asked if his brand of football will involve more risk and adventure than Clarke's, he was measured: "We have to find the right balance because if you play fantastic football and you don't qualify you get some criticism."

Pressing, tempo and 'defending like brothers'

Pocognoli's style is built on aggressive pressing and a fast tempo. He accepts cohesion may take time to develop with such a reshaped group, but insists there are certain non-negotiables he wants to see immediately against Slovenia.

"For me, it's about the personality of the players," he added. "I like a unit team who are just fighting for each other.

"It's a basic principle — attack together and squeeze the pitch. When we need to defend, it's just to defend like brothers. When we lose the ball, it's try to regain the ball as quickly as possible.

"From that, there are a lot of other principles, but that's the base. If you cannot get this, you will never have good principles on the pitch."

Rotation inevitable across four-game stretch

Given the condensed schedule — Slovenia away, Switzerland at home, North Macedonia away and Slovenia at home — Pocognoli expects a fair degree of rotation throughout the window.

"So good so far," he said of what he has seen from his squad in La Manga. "But we need to get the response through the games. It's up to them to perform well, but it's up to me to make them perform well."