Craig Levein claims his Scotland players are looking to bring an end to the ridicule which they often faced at their clubs on return from international duty.
The former Dundee United and Hearts boss took over from George Burley whose troubled tenure saw a failed 2010 World Cup campaign, with the last straw proving to be a 3-0 friendly defeat by Wales last November.
Levein got off to an encouraging start with a defeat of the Czech Republic in a Hampden friendly in March but admits there is still the need and desire to restore the country's credibility.
Speaking in Equip, the in-house magazine of sportswear shop Greaves Sports, with the interview partly quoted in the Daily Record, he said: "Players at international level have large egos. They get to international level through having a belief in themselves.
"Some of them had got to the stage where they didn't like going back to their clubs after playing for Scotland.
"They felt it left them open to ridicule and that's one of the many reasons they have for wanting to make things better.
"Some of the players had baggage from the last camp. With a new manager, that baggage can be shed right away. I've come in and already there's a feeling of things being lighter and clearer.
"My job is to encourage the players, use them in their best positions and get them working. First and foremost, we have to get Scotland beating other teams.
"It sounds pretty obvious but sometimes you can lose that focus. It needs to become the most important thing for us.
"Any Scotland supporter would expect to see their team roll their sleeves up and run themselves into the ground in pursuit of a win."
Levein got off to an encouraging start with a defeat of the Czech Republic in a Hampden friendly in March but admits there is still the need and desire to restore the country's credibility.
Speaking in Equip, the in-house magazine of sportswear shop Greaves Sports, with the interview partly quoted in the Daily Record, he said: "Players at international level have large egos. They get to international level through having a belief in themselves.
"Some of them had got to the stage where they didn't like going back to their clubs after playing for Scotland.
"They felt it left them open to ridicule and that's one of the many reasons they have for wanting to make things better.
"Some of the players had baggage from the last camp. With a new manager, that baggage can be shed right away. I've come in and already there's a feeling of things being lighter and clearer.
"My job is to encourage the players, use them in their best positions and get them working. First and foremost, we have to get Scotland beating other teams.
"It sounds pretty obvious but sometimes you can lose that focus. It needs to become the most important thing for us.
"Any Scotland supporter would expect to see their team roll their sleeves up and run themselves into the ground in pursuit of a win."
Copyright (c) Press Association
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