Stephen Welsh hails Sebastien Pocognoli’s half‑time overhaul in Slovenia
By CALUM CROWE, SCOTTISH DEPUTY CHIEF SPORTS WRITER, September 27, 2026 Scotland defender Stephen Welsh praised new boss Sebastien Pocognoli’s half‑time changes after the side turned a sluggish first half into a dominant display against Slovenia at Stadion Stozice in Ljubljana, yet left the game with only a point.
Early phases and halftime changes
Scotland were well off the pace in a disjointed first half at Stadion Stozice, with the Slovenians twice coming close to opening the scoring. The Scots struggled to retain possession and looked unsettled.
The second half was one of total domination from the Scots as they created a bucketload of clear‑cut chances and controlled the tempo of the match. Despite the flood of opportunities, they could only secure a point.
Pocognoli tweaked Billy Gilmour’s position to get him on the ball more often and instructed his players to press more aggressively higher up the pitch. He also showed the squad video details of the adjustments needed.
'He wasn’t angry or shouting or anything,' Welsh said, adding that the manager was calm and composed in his half‑time message. 'He showed us some details on the video and told us what we needed to change,' he continued, crediting the changes for the improved performance.
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Welsh recalled that Pocognoli told the squad they were good players and could work things out on the pitch. He added that the manager summed it up by saying they needed to be sharper and better.
The coach also urged the group to recognise their quality, saying ‘we are top players playing at a good level – so just go and show it’. Welsh felt that this confidence boost was evident in the second‑half performance.
Welsh also recalled Pocognoli saying ‘we are good players and we can figure it out ourselves on the pitch’, a line that resonated with the back line. The defender said the message helped the team settle into the new shape.
Future challenge against Switzerland
Scotland’s next fixture is on Tuesday against Switzerland, a World Cup quarter‑finalist, at home. Welsh believes the five days of preparation have paid off and expects the crowd to give them an edge. He reminded everyone that Switzerland were a World Cup quarter‑finalist and almost made the semi‑finals.
He also highlighted the quality off the bench, mentioning Doaky’s impact after coming on, and praised teammate Gunny for his defensive work. The squad’s depth, he said, will be crucial against the Swiss.