
King of Napoli Scott McTominay has already proved that Manchester United were wrong to sell him, says Scotland captain Andy Robertson
Andy Robertson says Scotland team-mate Scott McTominay has shown Manchester United they were wrong to sell him to Napoli.
And he insists the midfielder 'didn't get the respect he deserves' at Old Trafford prior to heading for Italy and winning the league title.
McTominay is coming off the debut season of his dreams in Serie A having scored the goal against Cagliari which propelled Antonio Conte 's side towards the scudetto.
Voted the league's most valuable player after contributing 12 goals and six assists, the 28-year-old was sold for just £25.7million by United last year.
Liverpool full-back Robertson feels his one-time Premier League rival could have done no more to show his former club exactly what they've been missing.
'I think he went over there with a point to prove,' said the Scotland captain ahead of Friday night's friendly with Iceland at Hampden.
'He wanted to prove Man Utd wrong and prove people in the Premier League wrong, and he's gone over there and done that pretty successfully.
'That's credit to him, credit to his attitude and his determination to be the best version of himself.
'Now he's a king over there. At Man Utd he probably lacked getting that run of games consistently, he was in and out and things like that.
'He probably didn't get the respect he deserves.
'Then he goes over there, puts in a magnificent season and, fair play to him, he ends it with the league title.
'Everyone knows how passionate their fans are so, for them to love one of ours, it's pretty special for Scotland, too.
'They love Billy (Gilmour) too, so credit to the both of them for going over there, being successful and winning the trophy.'
Despite McTominay and team-mate Gilmour fervently celebrating Napoli's fourth title, both checked in as planned this week as Scotland prepared to host the Icelanders.
Lewis Ferguson recently skippered Bologna to the Coppa Italia, and Roberston feels the success his international team-mates have recently enjoyed is their just reward for making such bold career moves.
'We have seen Scott and Billy go there, we've seen Lewis Ferguson go there, Aaron Hickey, Che Adams,' he said.
'We've got Max Johnston playing abroad (with Sturm Graz) as well. And when players move abroad, they see a different way of playing and a different lifestyle.
'That can only help the young lads coming through and I wouldn't be surprised if they're thinking they want to go and try it.
'It's credit to lads for stepping out of their comfort zone.
'I feel the more people we have with that winning mentality, playing in finals and playing in the final match of the season when you have to win, then it can only help us when things get high pressure for Scotland.
'This season has been a pretty good one on that front. Lads have played in high-pressure games, won titles and trophies. That can only help us going forward.'
The Scotand star has had the season of his dreams with the famous team from Naples
Scotland face Iceland before travelling to face Liechtenstein on Monday as Steve Clarke's side look to put the disappointment of being relegated from the top tier of the Nations League in March behind them.
Having won the play-off first leg in Greece 1-0, Scotland were dismantled 3-0 at Hampden.
The World Cup qualifying campaign begins in September with an away double header against Denmark and Belarus, and Robertson believes the team will be better for the adversity they've experienced.
'We learned a lot from the Greece games,' he stressed.
'Maybe the two legs, doing the travelling, took it out of us a bit.
'That's where the mentality, knowing what it takes in big games, that's where we have to be better.
'We have to be as fresh as we can going into that second game, dig deep when things aren't going well.'
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Daily Mail
15 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Scotland 1-3 Iceland PLAYER RATINGS: Which debutant had a horror show? Who suffered a title hangover? Whose long, hard season has taken its toll?
Scotland slumped to a dismal defeat by Iceland at Hampden Park with a performance that will raise questions about the future of their manager, Steve Clarke. While it was only a friendly international, Scotland's insipid display bodes ill for their forthcoming World Cup qualifying campaign. Not only were they flat and short of ideas going forward, they were shambolic in defence, where substitute goalkeeper Cieran Slicker had a horror show. When Angus Gunn went off with an early injury, Slicker came on for his debut and should have done better with all three goals. His was a nervy, error-strewn performance from the moment his poor pass allowed Andri Gudjohnsen to open the scoring. Although John Souttar equalised with a header, Lewis Ferguson's own goal, after a mix-up in the six-yard box, put Iceland back in front. Victor Palsson then made it 3-1 on bleak night for Scotland. Paul Forsyth assesses the performances of Clarke's players. Angus Gunn - 1 Went off injured in the early minutes after an awkward fall. His replacement, Cieran Slicker, conceded almost immediately Max Johnston - 6 Saw plenty of the ball and set up the equaliser with a corner. Might have made more of a chance at the back post John Souttar - 5 Equalised with a close-range header but should have done better in the shambles that gifted Iceland a second goal Grant Hanley - 4 Part of a thoroughly inept defensive display. Might have scored when he burst forward and tested the goalkeeper. Kieran Tierney - 6 From left-sided centre-half, his forays forward were the best hope. One overlapping run and cross deserved a better finish. Andy Robertson - 4 Didn't hit the byeline often enough and, when he did, nothing came of it. As captain, failed to lift his team John McGinn - 5 Willing enough, but a long, hard season with Aston Villa looked as though it had taken its toll of Scotland's talisman Lewis Ferguson - 5 Tried his best to press, but without success. Inadvertently turned the ball into his own net for Iceland's second Billy Gilmour - 5 His job is to set the tempo, but the deep-lying midfielder prompted only a flat, plodding display from those around him. Scott McTominay - 5 After the euphoria of his Napoli title triumph, here was the hangover. Thought he had set up a goal, but it was disallowed George Hirst - 6 Should have scored after getting into good positions. Headed his best chance over and had one effort ruled out. SUBSTITUTES: Slicker (for Gunn, 7min), Miller (Tierney, 68), Adams (Hirst, 68), McKenna (Hanley, 68) Patterson (Johnston, 80), Conway (McTominay 80) Not used: McCrorie, Ralston, Hendry, Irving, Wilson, Barron, Doig, Bowie. STEVE CLARKE - 3 Inspired nothing from his team; too loyal to the old guard ICELAND (4-3-3): Olafsson 7; Palsson 7 (Thorhallsson 60), Magnusson 6 (Gretarsson 46), Ingason 6 (Gunnarsson 77, 5), Ellertsson 7; Thordarson 6 (Anderson 72), Johanneson 6 (Traustason 72), Haraldsson 6; Gudmundsson 6, Gudjohnsen 7, Thorsteinsson 6 (Willumsson 72).


Daily Mail
25 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
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Days of silence and doubt and rumour and counter-rumour before the statement on Friday from Daniel Levy and theSpurs board that shattered Postecoglou's hopes of being able to build on what he achieved in Bilbao. 'Whilst winning the Europa League this season ranks as one of the club's greatest moments,' the statement announcing Postecoglou's departure read, 'we cannot base our decision on emotions aligned to this triumph. 'It is crucial that we are able to compete on multiple fronts and believe a change of approach will give us the strongest chance for the coming season and beyond. This has been one of the toughest decisions we have had to make and is not a decision that we have taken lightly, nor one we have rushed to conclude. 'We have made what we believe is the right decision to give us the best chance of success going forward, not the easy decision. We have a talented, young squad and Ange has given us a great platform to build upon.' 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Daily Mirror
30 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
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