Scots boss missing club routine

19 March 2010 12:45
But the former Dundee United boss is comfortable with his decision to take the once-in-a-lifetime chance to lead his country.[LNB]Levein spent the first few months of his tenure visiting training grounds across Britain to speak to players and their managers, and enjoyed a winning start to his reign earlier this month with a friendly victory over the Czech Republic.[LNB]But his second match, a friendly in Sweden, does not take place until August 11 - almost eight months after he accepted the role.[LNB]"I'm finding the lack of routine has been the most difficult thing," Levein, 45, told BBC Radio Scotland's Call Kaye programme.[LNB]"I've never done anything like this. You lose that daily contact with the players, you lose the routine, which is important for anybody.[LNB]"Routine in itself allows you to get things in place and to get everybody feeling comfortable in what you're doing.[LNB]"It also gives you a time to relax because you know when the game is on and you work back from the game situation and what you do on each day.[LNB]"The reason I took the job is because it's the Scottish national team manager's job and I couldn't get away from that.[LNB]"There is a huge draw to that. It's hard to get away from the fact that if I had turned down this opportunity, would I ever get the opportunity again?"[LNB]Levein's winning start has prompted a cautious increase in optimism surrounding the national team after a difficult period under George Burley.[LNB]Unrest off the field culminated in the infamous 'Boozegate' incident, which saw Barry Ferguson and Allan McGregor banned from international duty.[LNB]But Levein has given the pair the chance to return along with Lee McCulloch and Kris Boyd, who both had a self-imposed exile under Burley, and is confident they can move on.[LNB]Levein, who has instigated an alcohol ban on his players, said: "If you allow people's focus and concentration to drift away from the actual football, then it becomes a problem.[LNB]"I think the Scotland team in the last year, without going into any particular situations, there have been issues that overshadowed the football. That has had a major effect on their ability to win matches.[LNB]"My approach since I got the job is to start with a clean slate. Any of the baggage has been jettisoned - we start again. I don't deal with those situations."[LNB][LNB] EC Group I Win Outright: Scotland 10/1  

Source: Team_Talk