Clarke on 'ultimate priority', Ivory Coast & Liverpool return
[SNS] Head coach Steve Clarke has been addressing the media at the Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool before his Scotland side face Ivory Coast in Tuesday's friendly. Here are the key lines: "A big, difficult challenge" awaits against Ivory Coast, who are "strong, direct, quick, good in attack and defence and were very clinical against South Korea," said Clarke, who reiterated that his players don't like him for picking difficult opponents. "No injuries is the ultimate priority," adds Clarke, "then performance, then result," insisting "we [players and staff] all think the same.
" On the subject of building "momentum", Clarke thinks it is a "buzzword" that is growing in football: "I don't know if momentum is good, bad or indifferent... I'll tell you in the summer. " On perhaps taking "easier" friendlies to boost morale and Scotland's poor friendly record, he said: "I'm more interested in our record in competitive games and tournament record.
" Clarke is "fine" with expectations of his squad growing - in response to the reaction and booing after Saturday's defeat to Japan - adding: "The more you do, the more people expect of you, but I'd rather that than people not be bothered. If that level of expectation rises, that's fine - we can handle it. " On his squad for the World Cup, Clarke confirmed it is a Fifa requirement to name 55 players for his provisional squad and he will "find them" before whittling them down to 26.
On returning to the city of Liverpool, he said he had "a great time in a great city where I loved working with Kenny [Dalglish]. "