Scotland's Che Adams on Portugal and disappointing qualifying campaign
14/10/2024
Hampden Park, Scotland, UK
14/10/2024
Hampden Park, Scotland, UK
Category
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SportsTranscript
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01:22Good afternoon everyone, thanks for coming to the Scotland Press Conference with Shea Adams.
01:36Gordon are you starting? We'll take questions from the Scottish media first and then a few questions from the Portuguese media at the end.
01:42Shea, how do the players feel right now on this run where results aren't good but there is a feeling that performance levels are not too bad?
01:50Who toughens that cycle?
01:52I think we've got a good enough group now to acknowledge when things are going bad and to put a positive spin on things.
01:59The dressing room has been ok, we're just looking forward to putting things right tomorrow.
02:06The players are aware that results aren't good, so the games haven't been bad.
02:20We've got a good enough group to acknowledge that we haven't had the best performance, we've struggled in the situation.
02:28We think we're really excited to put things right tomorrow.
02:34Practically what does that look like, focusing on the positives? Is that about particular talks with the manager or reviewing the good things you've done?
02:42It can be easy to ignore the results, so how do you do that? How do you put that positive spin that you mentioned?
02:48I think it's putting things right on the training pitch. We're working on things day in and day out to come to positive results.
02:59I think the games have been really positive. I think we've not got the rub of green, in some cases, like my one yard offside the other day.
03:12Things like that, small margins impact your whole mentality a lot.
03:20I think tomorrow is another chance to come up against one of the best nations in the world. We're looking forward to that.
03:29You mentioned looking at the positives. Is that complicated or is it easy to ignore the fact that the results haven't been positive?
03:43We've worked really hard to get positive results. I think our games have been good. Sometimes it's a matter of details that have affected us.
03:56Tomorrow is another chance to come up against one of the best nations in the world.
04:26He understands how to manage the team and the players. It's credit to him and all the years that he's been the manager of this nation.
04:34As I said, we're just looking forward now to tomorrow and putting things right, as you would say, and putting on a good result and a good performance.
04:43Was it clear that the coach said he had faith in the players?
04:57It's true. As you know, the results are important for football. The coach is someone who has been at the forefront of the national team for many years.
05:08He knows how to manage this situation, this type of context. We have to credit him for being at the forefront for so long.
05:15I think we're really motivated for tomorrow. We want to put on a great performance and we want to get a good result.
05:26How difficult was it to watch the Poland and Portugal matches from the sidelines? When you return to the squad, does that give you a bit of extra motivation when you come back?
05:34It was definitely hard to see how much effort went into both the games. Especially against Portugal to lose so late in the game was devastating.
05:49It was definitely hard for the team as well. But, as I said, we're going to learn from these experiences and there's another chance for us to put things right tomorrow.
05:59That's what everyone's looking forward to.
06:01How difficult was it to watch the Poland and Portugal matches from the sidelines? When you return to the squad, does that give you a bit of extra motivation when you come back?
06:11It was definitely hard to watch the Poland and Portugal matches from the sidelines. But, as I said, we're going to learn from these experiences and there's another chance for us to put things right tomorrow.
06:21It was definitely hard to watch the Poland and Portugal matches from the sidelines. But, as I said, we're going to learn from these experiences and there's another chance for us to put things right tomorrow.
06:36When you're up against a team with so many stars, I'd imagine you could spend all day all week doing your prep and your homework on them and the threats that they carry.
06:44But, as much as you need to do that, how much does Scotland need to focus on what they can bring to the game and how they can hurt Portugal?
06:50Exactly. That's what we've been focusing on the past two days ever since the Croatia game.
06:56We know how good of a nation they are and how many amazing stars they've got, but it's down to us and what we do on the pitch.
07:04We've definitely got the team to hurt them and shake them about. That's what we've proved against Croatia, against the top nation as well.
07:13So, tomorrow is going to be no different.
07:16The question is, Scotland is up against a team with so many stars. How can the national team prepare for tomorrow's game?
07:33It's true. Yesterday, in the last two days, we've done what we can to prepare for tomorrow's game.
07:43We know that Portugal have excellent players, but it's in our hands.
07:48It's up to us to get a good performance and we've been thinking about what we can do to hurt them.
07:57That's what we did against Croatia and that's what we intend to do tomorrow against Portugal.
08:02You mentioned how you can hurt Portugal. One of the criticisms that came out of the Euros was that Scotland were a little bit too cautious.
08:10Have you detected any change in emphasis about getting after teams a bit more and not simply sitting back and waiting for them to make mistakes?
08:19I've definitely seen the changes in the mentality and the attacking play against Croatia.
08:27We played in a back four and we were definitely on the front foot and getting after them.
08:34I think it just helps having more bodies on the pitch to put them under pressure and create chances.
08:40I think we created a few against Croatia the other day.
08:44I think it just puts a positive spin on things if you have more people on the pitch to help in attack and get the ball back.
08:52You mentioned how you can hurt Portugal. One of the criticisms that came out of the Euros was that Scotland were a little bit too cautious.
09:08I think there is a change in mentality in our team. I think it was visible in the game against Croatia.
09:17We went after the opponent, we put a lot of pressure on them and we managed to create a few chances.
09:24I think the positive changes are visible because we have more people on the offensive.
09:37You had some decisive moments late on in games, late goals against Hungary, Portugal and the Valcek at the weekend.
09:45How frustrating is that? It's the finest of margins that are going against you guys.
09:51Yes, it's definitely frustrating.
09:54That shows how much we've grown as a nation to come up against these teams.
10:00To go down to the last millisecond or decisive moment is a huge bonus to us.
10:06It definitely changes everyone's mentality to believe in the right things and what the manager wants from us.
10:16I think it's credit to us and credit to the coaching staff to put us in that situation.
10:24There are four consecutive defeats. Some of them were made near the end of the game, for example against Hungary and also against Portugal.
10:38Is this situation frustrating?
10:42The answer is yes, it's really frustrating.
10:47However, it's an indicator that shows how much we've grown.
10:51The fact that we're able to play against top teams and have a positive result until the end of the game.
10:59This shows that there's a change of mentality in our national team and it's in our hands.
11:05We need to give credit to our coach and to ourselves for this type of performance.
11:36I'm not sure why it took so long, to be honest.
11:39They were probably looking at a few events before that, but the feeling was great.
11:45About the feeling I had, that maybe I could have had an impact.
11:55Xe Adams said that I was really unlucky. I thought I was in the game.
12:01After all, the decision was different, but I really thought it was that situation.
12:15What do you think moving to Italy can help you when it comes to international football?
12:20What are your impressions of the quality, intensity and style of play since you've been there that you think can help you when it comes to playing for Scotland?
12:30I think it just opens up your mind to experiencing different levels and different competitions.
12:38I think that can help the nation because we've got a few boys now that are playing abroad.
12:42We're coming together now and bringing different ideas, different styles of play and things like that.
12:48I think it's a huge bonus to the nation.
12:51What I've learned from moving abroad is that it just makes you grow as a person as well in terms of off the pitch, taking that challenge and being uncomfortable.
13:03I think that will only help you in life and in football.
13:07Xe Adams is a player who already plays at a high level abroad.
13:19How does he bring benefits to himself and how do you think his experience at a high level contributes to the Scottish national team?
13:26I think it just opens up your mind to experiencing different levels and different competitions.
13:32I think it just opens up your mind to experiencing different levels and different styles of play and things like that.
13:40I think it's a huge bonus to the nation.
13:43What I've learned from moving abroad is that it just makes you grow as a person as well in terms of off the pitch, taking that challenge and being uncomfortable.
13:53I think you have four goals already for Torino.
13:56What is it about the way that they're playing that is clearly working for you and are there other similarities with the way that Scotland try to attack?
14:05I think they like to play the ball forwards quickly.
14:09That obviously gives the strikers and the forward players enough chances to create and score goals.
14:17I think between Scotland and Torino where I'm at is just the mentality in terms of not giving up anything easy and being hard to play against.
14:30I think that goes well in Italy because everything is so tactical and so defensively set up.
14:38I think the two go well together.
14:41What is it about the way that they're playing that is clearly working for you and are there other similarities with the way that Scotland try to attack?
14:51I think between Scotland and Torino where I'm at is just the mentality in terms of not giving up anything easy and being hard to play against.
15:04What is it about Scotland and Torino where I'm at is just the mentality in terms of not giving up anything easy and being hard to play against.
15:11I think between Scotland and Torino where I'm at is just the mentality in terms of not giving up anything easy and being hard to play against.
15:14I think between Scotland and Torino where I'm at is just the mentality in terms of not giving up anything easy and being hard to play against.
15:17I think between Scotland and Torino where I'm at is just the mentality in terms of not giving up anything easy and being hard to play against.
15:20I think between Scotland and Torino where I'm at is just the mentality in terms of not giving up anything easy and being hard to play against.
15:35How important are the hand and crowd to keep them on side?
15:50The fans here are great, they're always backing us in every game and to have them here against Portugal is going to be special.
16:00Everyone in the nation wants us to play against the best and go toe-to-toe with them.
16:05Tomorrow's going to be no exception, everyone's going to be up for it and the crowd are going to be up for it.
16:10As long as we start fast and we start quick, we'll be in for a good night.
16:15How important are the hand and crowd to keep them on side?
16:18The fans here are great, they're always backing us in every game and to have them here against Portugal is going to be special.
16:23Everyone in the nation wants us to play against the best and go toe-to-toe with them.
16:28Tomorrow's going to be no exception, everyone's going to be up for it and the crowd are going to be up for it.
16:33As long as we start fast and we start quick, we'll be in for a good night.
16:46Could you pass the mic?
16:48We'll just take one question from the Portuguese over there.
16:56Hello Shea, I'm Jean Pimpim from Ebola Portugal.
17:00I would like to know, you play in Italy and tomorrow we will play against Francisco Conceição,
17:09that is having a big blast in this beginning of the season in Juventus.
17:14And also Rafael Leão from Milan, what do you think of them as players?
17:20And also from your position in the attack, there's Cristiano Ronaldo with 39 years,
17:27still playing, your opinion about this longevity of him also? Thank you.
17:33Amazing player, amazing career.
17:38I think he's made a lot of people fall in love with the game of football.
17:42And he's a lot of idol to the kids growing up now.
17:45He's an amazing player, but tomorrow's going to be a bit different for us.
17:51We're going to have to stop him and put him out of his track.
17:54We're looking forward to coming up against him, stopping him and putting our stamp on the game.
18:02Thank you, folks.