Andy Robertson has heaped praise on Scotland teammate Scott McTominay, declaring the Napoli midfielder the best player in Serie A. McTominay has been cleared to play in Scotland's World Cup Group C opener against Haiti in Boston on Saturday night after recovering from a stomach bug.
Robertson Highlights McTominay's Mentality
Robertson, the Scotland captain, emphasized McTominay's importance to the squad and noted that he is one of several leaders under manager Steve Clarke. However, Robertson stressed that no player is above the team.
"Scotty's unbelievable. When he first came in, he was playing at centre-back, which is crazy to think about now," Robertson said. "He showed his personality by making a tough decision to leave Manchester United. He went to Italy and became the best player in the league. Credit goes to him. When I talk about players' mentality, Scott's is right up there. He leaves no stone unturned. His quality has improved, and he's grown into his role. I can't speak highly enough of him. He's a fantastic player and a great character in the changing room. He's another leader who helps me a lot. Hopefully, he has more big moments in a Scotland shirt."
Team Ethic Above Individual Egos
Robertson insisted that despite McTominay's star status, the squad remains united. "Scotty's personality is similar to mine. But although there's focus on him, we've always been a team. That's what got us where we are today. It's not about individuals. No one is better than anyone else, no one has a bigger ego. We're a team of equals, and that works for us. Scotty has been our main man for a couple of years, but he wouldn't see it that way."
As Scotland prepares for its first World Cup in 28 years, Robertson acknowledged the support of his leadership group. "I got the captaincy young and probably made mistakes. But there was an issue with players not turning up regularly. I promised myself I would always join up, and thankfully, I had good lads like John McGinn, McTominay, Ryan Christie, and Kenny McLean, who had the same attitude. Now people are desperate to play for their country. We've created a culture. I can't take all the credit, but this group is special."
Robertson's Future Sorted Ahead of Tournament
Robertson heads into the World Cup as a Tottenham player after agreeing a move before traveling to the United States. He stated it was crucial to have his future resolved after nine years at Liverpool. "It was the one thing I wanted. I didn't want anything hanging over me at the World Cup. Once it was known I was leaving Liverpool, I wanted my future sorted ASAP. I'm happy it's resolved and very happy to go to Tottenham. I haven't thought about it much this week. I'm fully focused on Scotland. When the tournament ends, I'll switch off and then embrace the new challenge."
