In a pre-match press conference ahead of Switzerland's match against Scotland in the second round of the UEFA Europa League group stage, Swiss head coach Yakin gave his thoughts on the upcoming match.
Yakin began by recognizing the strength of the Scottish team, saying that they are capable of playing a high quality game and that they will certainly prepare well for this match, trying to disrupt the Swiss team's rhythm. He emphasized that the Swiss will need to maintain a high level of concentration and focus, work hard to control the ball and be ready to run in order to meet the challenge of the Scottish team.
Talking about the squad and tactical adjustments, Yakin revealed that they have made some adjustments to improve the team's attacking power after the previous friendly matches. He expects these adjustments to work again against Scotland.
When asked if he had changed his opinion of Scotland because of their result against Germany, Yakin didn't answer directly, instead pointing to the immense pressure Germany faced in the game and their focus and effort. This seemed to imply that he would not easily change his assessment of the Scottish team because of the result of one game.
In addition, Yakin spoke about the progress of the team's defender Akanji and the increased responsibility he is taking on in the team. He emphasized that not only Akanji, but the entire central line of players need to take more responsibility.
Regarding the possibility of inclement weather, Yakin said that as professional soccer players, they are prepared to play on any field and in any weather condition.
Finally, in response to a question about Scotland's key players, Yakin chose not to single out any one player, instead emphasizing that he was more focused on his team.
