Sebastien Pocognoli seeking home comforts when Scotland host Switzerland
Sebastien Pocognoli has urged his players to get the Hampden crowd on board as his new era continues back in Scotland.
The Belgian takes charge of his first home game when Switzerland visit Glasgow in the Nations League on Tuesday.
The former Union St-Gilloise and Monaco head coach’s tenure began with a goalless draw in Slovenia on Saturday but a dominant second-half display provided plenty of encouragement for the travelling fans and those watching on television.
The Swiss represent a step up in difficulty after taking Argentina to extra time in the World Cup quarter-finals.
The 39-year-old said: “It will be a special moment, the first time at home. I’ve really been looking forward to that moment since I’ve been appointed as a new gaffer.
“I think the fans will be a reflection of what we will be on the pitch. If we are brave, if we are trying, if we face the risk, if we face the opponent, I think the supporters will adapt to this and they will be behind us.
“The first reaction after the game in Slovenia was that reaction because we turned the game (around) and we faced the opponent.
“I hope we can do it with a different level of opponent but I think we had a good test in Slovenia. It’s never easy to go there.
“Sometimes you have a very good opponent and you just have to be smarter in your approach. But the idea will be always be, and certainly at home, to try to take control of the game as much as possible.”
Robbie Ure hit a post in the first half in Ljubljana before Scotland missed several clear-cut chances after the interval.
Pocognoli was relaxed about the stalemate given the opportunities created and praised his side’s defending.
When asked what improvements he wanted to see, he said: “Just to play 90 minutes like we finished the game in Slovenia. It gives a good boost to the players after the game to finish with this feeling.
“Don’t take it wrong, we were disappointed in the dressing room that we didn’t get the three points. We were not satisfied with one point. But for the first game, we take it and we move on.”
Pocognoli handed debuts to Stephen Welsh and Ure in Ljubljana while recalling Oli McBurnie from a five-year international exile.
He also introduced a new formation, deploying three centre-backs who spread across the pitch in possession and a central strike pair. There could be further innovations against the Swiss.
“We have four games, so we will try to find a balance to get results but also to see a different approach on the pitch, a different profile,” Pocognoli said.
“And I think that during the four games we will have different kinds of experimentation. The idea is to have the most information after the camp to use in the future but also have the most points we can get.”
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