Andre Villas-Boas and Marcello Lippi hold out hope for for Scottish game

TWO of the biggest names in European football united yesterday to insist that the Scottish game is in a healthier state than is often thought.

Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas and former Italy boss Marcello Lippi, at Hampden to make the draw for the fifth round of the Scottish Cup, paid tribute to some of the country’s leading names, and said that our traditional footballing virtues would stand us in good stead during the present economic difficulties.

Villas-Boas, in particular, has an esteem for Scottish football that is based on long experience. An early starter as a coach, he took his first coaching badge here as a teenager, and has returned many times since.

“My first time here was when I was 17 and did my C certificate at Largs,” said Villas-Boas, who is now 34. “I just wanted to get as much information as I could and put it into practice.

“The good thing about the SFA courses is that they were very open-minded and respecting of your opinions, and there was lots of discussion points. Also, there was a lot of practical work, which in the end helps you feel well on the pitch and the way you lead your training sessions.

“I had to pay my own way here. The SFA course was a two-week course and the prices were always very competitive.”

Scottish football itself is competitive enough, Villas-Boas believes, to make it a good place to raise players. Although he knows enough about the SPL to be aware of its financial difficulties, the Portuguese coach is also confident it can withstand such difficulties and continue to nurture top-quality footballers.

“It’s hard times for everyone in Europe and at some point the financial crisis has hit SPL clubs. With the persistence which the Scottish people always have, this situation can be overturned and I’m sure you can find people who are willing to invest in Scottish football.

“At the moment, this is the situation, but the top clubs have a part to play. Rangers are also trying to fight the financial battles that they have to live with every day. Hopefully they will come good and this won’t have a knock-on effect to the other clubs. The top clubs in Scotland are important in the way they help money be moved around in Scotland.

“Regarding the talent coming here, it’s always been like that. A couple of the world’s best players have evolved from here. This was their first stepping stone towards a good career. It happened with Rino Gattuso, for example, and in the case of managers. Hopefully it can continue to be like that.”

Villas-Boas has been friends with Ally McCoist for some time, and last year he and the Rangers manager discussed moving Chelsea players to Ibrox on loan, although no such moves are imminent at present. A move from north to south is more likely during this transfer window, and Villas-Boas thinks Rangers striker Nikica Jelavic could thrive in the English Premier League provided he found the right kind of team to fit into.

“That was a conversation we had at the beginning of the season, and we didn’t follow through on that,” he said of his loan talks with McCoist. “We spoke about a couple of players. Ally showed an interest in one or two of them, but eventually decided to take a different route.

“At the moment, we’re not willing to loan anybody else. The only one we have outlined to loan at the moment is Josh McEachran and we almost have a deal done.

“Jelavic is a great goalscorer and scores goals for fun. The transfer to the Premier League is always a difficult one, but I think a player of his talent, with the right motivation, if he finds the right club, he can continue to produce.”

Hearts boss Paulo Sergio is another SPL manager known to Villas-Boas – and another to impress him because of his ability to cope in difficult circumstances. “The situation at Hearts is a very difficult one to live with,” the Chelsea boss said of his compatriot. “Paulo has managed to get the results within this turmoil that is happening at the club – the fact the players don’t get paid and all the structural problems he faces. I think you have to praise somebody who is faced with these difficulties.

“Of course, in society, there are other problems and other issues that are much more important than football. But anybody who dedicates himself to a job 100 per cent likes to be rewarded for doing that job properly and I’m sure Hearts can work the situation out and find a solution to help Paulo to continue to do a good job.”

Lippi, speaking through Kilmarnock’s Manuel Pascali, said he thought Scottish football was heading in the right direction despite the fact that the national team has failed to qualify for a major tournament since 1998. “You don’t have to change a lot,” he said. “Just be confident for the future. It’s really important to work really hard on the youth system.”

Asked why both Italy and Scotland had produced so many excellent managers, Lippi said the answer lay in history – but added that first-class bosses were usually such outstanding individuals that it was hard to come up with a formula to produce them. “There’s a great tradition in both countries. Both are football mad. But it’s hard to compare managers, because each one has his own ways. Some are brilliant on the pitch, others are good psychologically.”

Lippi cited Manchester Unietd boss Sir Alex Ferguson is a key example of managers’ uniqueness, and said he could hardly imagine anyone else emulating his quarter-century at a leading club. “It’s very, very difficult,” he said. “In Italy it’s impossible. It’s also true there’s only one Alex Ferguson.”