Cuthbert: Scotland boss is teaching us to embrace the beautiful game

Scotland attacker Erin Cuthbert has revealed how much she is enjoying working with new Scotland boss Pedro Martinez Losa, and is learning to appreciate the beauty of football.

The national team star is a key part of Martinez Losa’s plans and she had previously spoken about enjoying fresh ideas while training with the coach as Scotland kicked off their World Cup campaign with wins over Hungary and Faroe Islands. As the team now prepares to face Hungary at Hampden on Friday, she spoke about how she was developing a deeper understanding of a style of football under the Spaniard.

“I think I’ve learned a lot about the beauty of football, the beauty of keeping the ball, the beauty of having possession, being able to move and help out your team-mates to be honest,” she said. “I’ve definitely learnt a lot. I feel likes it’s more free-flowing football. He’s very much of the idea of ’just play what you see’.

“It’s quite nice to have a structure and a foundation but also just go and express yourself and I feel like that’s what a lot of the players are doing.”

The 23-year-old is in the position of having inspiring managers at club and country, with Emma Hayes at Chelsea being another influence.

“I’m never going to be a finished article so I’m always going to be learning doesn’t matter what age I am and what stage I am in my career,” Cuthbert said. “I think it’s nice to experience different managers and different things.

“I’ve got Emma Hayes at Chelsea who I’m learning a lot under still and I’m coming here and I’ve got Pedro. It’s certainly a lot of information but I’m really, really enjoying it.

“I love just being able to go an express myself. I’m a player who likes to play with freedom and not have the reins on me and it’s nice to have that here.”

After wins in the opening two games, Cuthbert hopes the team can keep their strong start going this week, and home advantage will be something the player is eagerly anticipating after the 7-1 win over the Faroes last time out at Hampden.

“It was amazing, it was an incredible night,” she said. “As soon as we came out, we could hear the fans roaring.

“We’re hoping for another good crowd. We want even more. We’ve got a tough opposition to play and hopefully that brings in more fans. That night at Hampden was really special, playing under the lights at Hampden.

“We saw the men’s team do it at Hampden against Israel. I was at home and absolutely buzzing and dreaming that one day that can be us celebrating and doing the knee slides. As players we need to keep setting the bar, we need to keep performing. The more results we get, the better performances we bring and the more attractive football we start playing then the more we’re going to see coming through the gates.

“Rome wasn’t built in a day. We’re under no illusions that we’re going to be the finished article straight away. We saw that against Hungary but I think you’re starting to see little snippets in the games of us trying to play more progressive attacking football.

“I think last campaign we really struggled conceding silly goals and that’s ultimately what’s let us down. He’s made us harder to beat and having the structure in defence has given us the freedom to express ourselves in attack and we’re creating more chances than ever.”