Hartley Wishes He Could Have Played Against England..

[TheDarkBlues]

Paul Hartley admits he would have loved to play for Scotland against England.

The Dundee manager will be an interested spectator when the two sides clash tonight in a friendly at Celtic Park.

However, he would have liked nothing better than to have featured for the national side against the Auld Enemy during his international playing career but he was denied the opportunity because there was a 14-year gap when the rivals did not meet.

Now though, he is hoping Gordon Strachan’s present Scotland side can take up where they left off following Friday night’s thrilling Euro 2016 qualifier victory over Ireland — thanks to a cracking Shaun Maloney goal — when they meet Roy Hodgson’s England outfit.

Hartley said: “I thought Scotland were excellent on Friday.

“I was at the game and it was a real blood and thunder, typical British encounter but we were terrific.

“It was a great goal straight off the training ground.

“It was a top game with a superb atmosphere as well. I thought second half, we deserved to win it.

“Our 20s have a game on Tuesday but I will watch the England match on TV.

He added: “I went to Euro 96 when Paul Gascoigne scored at Wembley. I was part of the squad, one of six young helpers at the time under Craig Brown.

“It was a great experience watching that game and the whole atmosphere.

“I think you always want to play in a Scotland v England match but it wasn’t possible in my time.

“Obviously they have brought it back in the last year or so but it is a game I would love to have played in.

“So I am looking forward to watching this match against England.

“It is the Auld Enemy and we want to do well but I think Friday night’s result was the more important one.

“We have a really good chance of doing something.

“I know how the manager works and I think he has been absolutely brilliant so far.

“Having worked under him, I know how good he is.”

Source: The Courier

[TheDarkBlues]

Not many managers that can be bothered to actually watch the youngsters and see how they're progressing.

Top notch!

[gedee]

From PH in the main post .........."It was a great goal straight off the training ground"

Aye he's right.         But it is still a cliche !!       Request that wee bit must be moved to my post topic under cliches.

( Jist because he is a great manager, disnae mean he can start doing the "cliche talk" )