Scott McTominay puffs out his cheeks and exhales. The Manchester United star is reflecting on a sliding-doors moment and intervention from Scotland boss Steve Clarke that changed his outlook on life and football.
‘My career could be over in a heartbeat,’ he says with a hint of trepidation. After achieving childhood dreams and then some by establishing himself as a regular at Old Trafford, plus making his family proud by serving the Tartan Army, McTominay was not enjoying his football.
The midfielder is here to talk about many topics to Mail Sport, from his gratitude to Erik ten Hag, tears when Jose Mourinho left United and the ‘maddest moment’ of his career that saw him play half of a match partially blinded.
But first on the agenda is Scotland, a topic the conversation continuously loops back to. Around 18 months ago, McTominay’s inner circle – dad, girlfriend (now fiancée) Cameron and coaches – noticed he was dragging himself around like he had the weight of the world on his shoulders.
‘I sat with Steve Clarke, I spoke to my dad and my girlfriend about not enjoying football – or not enjoying it as much as I should do. I am in a pretty privileged position and it was about reflecting on that, realising where I am and not taking it for granted.
Scott McTominay recently paid a visit to a school in Glasgow ahead of the Euros in Germany
McTominay won the FA Cup with Man United and says he wants more of those moments
The midfielder, 27, will be a key part of Scotland’s squad at the Euros in Germany
‘My career could be over in a heartbeat. He told me some pointers, told me to remember when I was an 18-year-old kid in the academy at United… now I’m here and playing for Scotland. In the next two games I scored four goals with a smile on my face!
‘The best piece of advice I’ve had is to just enjoy it. Play with a smile on your face and you’ll be good as gold. Just like in any job. It’s what I always say to younger players. Your childhood goes too quickly – by the time you know it, you’re older and have more responsibilities.
‘D’you know what? His (Clarke’s) whole demeanour and how he carries himself is great. He’s never too high, never too low. He keeps the players level-headed the whole time and it reflects on the pitch.
‘We’ve had some poor results in the last couple of camps and we know that, he’s on us about that. It’s not just a case of getting to the Euros and (it being) job done. We want more. We are more than capable of doing it this summer.’
Born in Lancaster, McTominay qualifies to play for the Scots through his father, who is from Helensburgh. Pressed on the dilemma he faced when choosing who to represent internationally, McTominay is quick to intervene and dismiss that it was ever in question.
‘Everyone surrounding me as a youngster knew I wanted to play for Scotland,’ he says. ‘To see my grandparents watching me play for Scotland is the biggest highlight of my career. Seeing how proud they were, it still gives me goosebumps now.’
Indeed, there is a comical clip of McTominay’s grandfather furious at a video assistant referee decision to chalk off a goal he scored against Spain last year, which the midfielder captioned: ‘Grandpa not happy with VAR’.
‘It was most definitely one of the favourite moments of my life,’ he continues. ‘I have to strive to make more memories like that this summer. That’s what I do this for. They’re the most important part of my life, my loved ones. I want to see them smiling – and the whole of Scotland as well.
McTominay revealed what he thinks of Man United boss Erik ten Hag, who’s job is at risk
Ten Hag could still lose his job despite helping United win 2-1 over Man City in the FA Cup final
McTominay pictured with fiancee Cam Reading in the aftermath of their Wembley triumph
McTominay said he cried in Jose Mourinho’s office when he learned of the Portuguese’s sacking at United
‘The last Euros was very different – it was Covid, stadiums weren’t quite full, we stayed in Scotland but played in England. This is a proper tournament, though. We’re in Germany on camp. That’s it, we’re there for business. No distractions. That’s when you get the best out of us.
‘It will be carnage in Germany, the Tartan Army will take over and make a lot of noise. That gives us the fight to play for them, perform for them, show them that we care about them spending their hard-earned money to get over and watch us.’
The bookmakers’ money is not in injury-ravaged Scotland’s favour in Friday’s showpiece opener against hosts Germany in Munich, nor will it be against experienced Switzerland in Cologne or dark-horses Hungary in Stuttgart.
But McTominay has recent experience in defying the odds, when even the might of Manchester United were a long shot to win the FA Cup final last month against bitter rivals Manchester City. The Scotsman played an instrumental role in that 2-1 win at Wembley.
‘Sometimes people can have their opinions and say whatever they want,’ adds the 27-year-old. ‘City are an amazing team but we stuck together, I want more moments like that. I came away from that FA Cup final thinking, “D’you know what, I want more of that”. That is my motivation.
‘Every credit to Erik. The media makes it difficult. That’s the case for any Manchester United manager given the magnitude of the club. That’s only normal but he’s handled it extremely well. I am very, very pleased for him… he deserved that FA Cup.
‘It’s not easy when everyone is writing you off and you come up trumps. It makes a big difference to the feeling and confidence around the place. We know as players how big the club is, we expect everything that comes our way whether it’s positive or negative.’
McTominay has dedicated more than two decades to United, having joined aged five after being spotted at a development centre event in Preston. He started as a midfielder but often played in the attack – which might explain how he has recently unleashed a goal-scoring nack.
One move he credits with his development is starting to wear contact lenses in his mid-teens, after spending his childhood ‘squinting at the television’ – when his parents could get him inside, that is, as he spent most of his evenings playing football with his mates.
‘Ever since I was in school, I was squinting a lot, not being able to see things as well as I should have been able to,’ he says. ‘I had to wear glasses in school – should have worn them more than I did – and then I got contacts at 15.
‘It changed my life, made a massive difference. But once, we were playing Paris Saint-Germain away and Neymar got his hand in my eye and my lens came out… I panicked! I didn’t know what to do.
‘You need to have clean hands and a clean face to change them, so I had to rush in at half time to wash my hands. It’s probably the maddest experience I’ve had on a football pitch.’
Although McTominay’s sight might not be perfect, one person who had exemplary vision was Mourinho, the former United boss who saw the youngster’s talents and handed him his debut in 2017 aged 20.
One move he credits with his development is starting to wear contact lenses in his mid-teens
Mourinho has since called McTominay ‘my boy’. When asked about him by TNT Sports reporter Des Kelly after his second Champions League appearance in 2018, the Portuguese icon – now at Fenerbahce – replied, ‘Can I hug you?’ and proceeded into an embrace, before explaining why he was so desperate to wax lyrical about the young Scot.
‘When he left I was in his office, borderline in tears,’ recalls McTominay now. ‘I didn’t want him to leave. I felt like he could trust me and the other way. But that’s football. The game changes very quickly. What he’s done over his career speaks for itself and I wish him the very best.
‘He’s been amazing with me, he texts me to see how I’m doing. A great man who I have all the respect for in the world. Jose means a lot to me. Anyone who gives you your senior debut is the guy you look to. He played me a lot and I am very grateful for him.’
Mourinho’s faith – plus continued support from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Ralf Rangnick and Ten Hag, who all saw McTominay as mainstays – set in motion his rise to becoming Scotland’s unexpected goal threat in Germany.
Only three men scored more goals than his seven in the qualifying campaign: Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappe and Harry Kane. Not bad company. Now he believes he is ready to contribute on the biggest stage for his nation.
McTominay spent his childhood ‘squinting at the television’ – when his parents could get him inside
‘I need to just keep getting myself in the positions and being confident in striking the ball – which I am. I practice a lot with my left and right foot,’ he says. ‘If you can defend well and can also put the ball in the net, it’s all good.
‘I always used to love watching the Euros, I always remember all the football boots for some reason, watching Andres Iniesta… I used to love Zinedine Zidane, man. I’ll never forget that goal he scored in the Champions League final – the best player by far I’d ever seen.
‘I always used to collect the stickers but I had to spend my money wisely, they were expensive so I had to be good with my pocket money, could’t just launch myself into the Spar and get loads of stickers otherwise I would have had no food!
‘But I was always out playing football. My mum and dad were as good as gold, letting me stay out until dark to play. For me to play in a tournament like this, it’s what I’ve always dreamed of. I am extremely grateful and I can’t wait.’
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