Alex McLeish has turned to self pity after Scotland’s latest defeats on his watch.
The Scotland boss has been under attack from fans and the media on the back of defeats from Israel and Portugal.
With six defeats from eight matches McLeish is finding the going tough without the comfort of being able to recruit players through a disguised remuneration scheme which he also enjoyed to the tune of £1.7m.
After losing to Israel Scotland’s hopes of progressing in the Nations League look flimsy while a 3-1 home defeat from Portugal’s second string further damaged morale.
When Ronny Deila and Mark Warburton weren’t getting results they made public the pressure that their families were suffering with McLeish taking a similar approach to adverse results.
Revealing how he reacted to the defeat in Israel he told The Sun: “You feel as if the world is caving in on you.
“Then the next day when you wake up after a half-decent sleep — thanks to a sleeping pill — you pick yourself up and go again.”
While the results were bad enough the nature of the performances has led to greater criticism with McLeish’s media appearances uninspiring, at best.
Telling Sky Sports viewers that Scotland had played well against Portugal led to a mixture of criticism and concern for his state of health.
Scotland are next in action away to Albania on November 17 followed by the final Nations League match at home to Israel three days later.