One of Steven MacLean’s pre-match messages was a simple one: No excuses.
St Johnstone’s interim manager spoke with steely determination this week as he looks to steer the club away from relegation trouble.
Poor form, which led to the departure of cup double-winning boss Callum Davidson, has Saints peering ominously over their shoulder.
But MacLean, who was assistant, has quickly thrown himself into the mission of easing drop fears with victory at home to Hibs tomorrow. He said: “You know what? There’s no excuses.
“I’m not going to go and say this or that, there is no excuse.
“Let’s go. Let’s go and have a go. Let’s go and enjoy ourselves and you enjoy football by winning and that’s what we want to do.
“There are no excuses. It’ll be what it’ll be and you can’t control the pitch.
“You can control your own performance and how you prepare, how you go about things and that’s what the players need to do.”
MacLean, who was always passionate on the pitch during his playing days, said that work-rate, effort and energy are “non-negotiables” for him.
He added: “People might say ‘what is going to change’?
“But everybody has their own ideas. I have my own ideas and methods.
“I have trained with the players for three days. I’m not going to reinvent the wheel.
“You need to do your own job and take responsibility. The players have got to do that.
“We always talk about doing the simple things well and you need to earn the right to win a game.
“It is not just about styles and playing through the lines. Sometimes it is just about work-rate and energy.”
MacLean admits himself to leading a “journeyman” playing career but that has allowed him to work – and learn – from many different managers.
“You try to take bits from everybody,” he said.
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