Managers tend to stick together, backing each other up in a job that is often thankless.
When they are under pressure they don’t like the opinions of others, outsiders that don’t understand the game, the problems and the issues.
Gordon Strachan was certainly no fan of the media. He could barely contain his contempt at times when outsiders questioned him while managing Celtic or Scotland.
Those traits make him a popular figure in broadcasting, his face and opinions can be heard on various radio and television stations.
During the eighties Strachan and Alex McLeish were team-mates in Alex Ferguson’s Aberdeen side, they stuck together and scrapped together with barely a disagreement.
Leigh Griffiths’ treatment by the current Scotland however has split them.
With so few players to pick from McLeish has to act diplomatically but the euphoria of beating Albania with Steven Naismith leading the line brought out the worst in the former Rangers (IL) boss as he goaded and invited criticism of Griffiths.
Last week he brought up the private life of the Celtic striker- people in glass houses should pay their tax bills.
Yesterday Strachan came to the defence of Griffiths, effectively joining the criticism of his old Aberdeen team mate.
“Some people have suggested that Leigh Griffiths’ decision to pull out of the Scotland squad was some kind of sulk about not being picked in the previous matches,” he told Paddy Power. “But the person I dealt with and know? I can’t see it, I really can’t.
“Yes, he’s a quirky character, but he was never a problem at any time. Not one problem whatsoever, and I think every manager who has ever worked with Griff will say that.
“He can make you laugh, he can make you scratch your head, he can make you question what’s normal – but, whatever was happening in his life, when he was on the training field, he was first class, and great company.
“Maybe because we’re both from Edinburgh, and a bit wacky, but I got him.
“And what people seem to be forgetting is that, when Alex made that decision, it was the Albania game, which Scotland won.
“I’ve got to say, five years ago, I didn’t think he’d get to the standard he is now. I thought he was a good player, but not very good.
“So that improvement is a credit to Griff – there’s something in him that makes him want to get better, and this is another example of that.”
Before the next round of international fixtures Celtic play Hearts on successive weekends with Griffiths not short of motivation.