Steve Clarke watched Cristiano Ronaldo break Scottish hearts here in Lisbon and then urged his players not to beat themselves up over it.
Clarke’s side mounted a heroic effort to come within three minutes of a historic first point in the top flight of the Nations League against the big guns of Portugal at Benfica’s Stadium of Light. But veteran Ronaldo – who was thrown on from the bench at half time when Scotland were 1-0 up through Scott McTominay’s opener – came up with the killer touch from close range to win it for the home side with 87 minutes on the clock.
Clarke’s players looked devastated as they trudged off the pitch on the back of a second straight defeat following last week’s loss at home to Poland. But a defiant Clarke said: “The lesson is not to be too hard on themselves. Obviously they’ll be disappointed but I think I think there’s been a lot of positives – if you can ignore the results.
“But we’re professionals. So it’s disappointing to come out of two games where I feel we played very well in both games and don’t have anything to show for it. Like I said, it’s a level where the lessons are harsh. But it’s important – and I spoke to the players about it in the dressing room about this – not to be too hard on themselves.
“Obviously they’re disappointed, but they have to understand the work that we’re doing. After the summer we decided to change the system a little bit for these two matches. I think you see that the players have done good work in not a lot of time.
“That’s why I’m so disappointed for them, because they’ve put so much into these two games. They’ve got to be disappointed because they’re professionals. They want to win, they want to do well for their country. That’s the nature of the squad of players that we’ve got.”
McTominay headed Scotland into the lead after only six minutes – ghosting in on the end of a terrific move to thump home Kenny McLean’s perfectly delivered cross. And, despite coming under heavy fire as the first half wore on, Clarke got his players inside at the break with their noses still in front.
But Portugal boss Roberto Martinez sent Ronaldo on to spearhead a second half rescue mission which began in 54 minutes when Angus Gunn failed to keep out a long range effort from Manchester United skipper Bruno Fernandes. Gunn recovered from that mistake to make a string of spectacular stops late on as the home side pushed for a late winner. Asked about his blunder for Portugal’s equaliser Clarke said: “I don’t speak about individuals. Gunny had a good game tonight.”
Then just when it seemed Scotland might escape with a deserved draw, 39-year-old Ronaldo poked home the winner from five yards out – to notch goal No.901 of his glittering professional career. But the Scotland boss believes his side is improving rapidly at this level after a timid performance at the Euros in Germany.
He went on: “I’m obviously disappointed to lose a game where we looked for a long period of time that we would get something from it. But, most of all, I’m really disappointed for my players.
“The effort and the quality they put into the game, they deserved to get something from it. You’ve got to hold on to the belief that the improved performances that we’re seeing will yield something. It’s just about reiterating to the players that we have to understand what part of the cycle we’re in.”