AdminJohn McGinn has opened up on how he deals with criticism surrounding his recent performances for Scotland, admitting that experience has helped him handle difficult periods better.
The 31-year-old Aston Villa captain has earned 91 international caps and represented Scotland at three major tournaments since making his debut more than a decade ago.
However, his position as a regular starter has come under scrutiny following an underwhelming World Cup campaign and difficult performances in the opening two Nations League matches.
“The nature of the beast is, at club and country, you have a lot of responsibility, a lot of weight on your shoulders,” McGinn said ahead of Scotland’s Saturday night showdown with North Macedonia.
“When you do something well, you’re the best thing since sliced bread. When you don’t have a great couple of games, or you’re not producing assists, or you make a poor pass in a pivotal moment in a game, you’re automatically not good enough. It’s the nature of being my age.”
McGinn admitted criticism can be difficult but believes he has developed the mentality required to deal with it.
“Everyone’s entitled to their opinion, but if you go through a spell where you’re not doing too well, you need to find that inner self-belief, which I feel like I have.”
He also reflected on his recent form, admitting there is room for improvement.
“Have I played well in the last couple of Scotland games? Probably not in the first half in Slovenia, but a bit better in the second half.”
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