Captain got a good look at right-back during Champions League ties
Although he was a much less integral figure for Liverpool last season, Andy Robertson still got a good look at Achraf Hakimi. In fact, it might be because he was cast as a bit-part player for Arne Slot that he was able to admire the Paris Saint-Germain right-back’s qualities.
Robertson, who left Liverpool for Spurs earlier this month, would normally be expected to face Hakimi, his opposite man. But Robertson, who found Milos Kerkez blocking his path to the first-team, only came on as substitute in the last 12 minutes of last season’s Champions League quarter-final first leg, which Liverpool lost 2-0 in Parc des Princes. He remained on the bench for the entire second leg as the Anfield side crashed out 4-0 on aggregate.
He has of course played a more active part against the Morocco skipper, as recently as the season before last. Robertson played every moment of the 210 minutes required as Liverpool lost out again against the French champions, this time on penalties at the last 16 stage.
Andy Robertson takes his seat ahead of a Scotland press conference.placeholder image
Andy Robertson takes his seat ahead of a Scotland press conference. | Getty Images
“I think he’s the best full-back in the world - him and Nuno Mendes on the other side at PSG,” said Robertson, when asked about Hakimi’s quality on Thursday. “We played against them twice at Liverpool in the last two years of the Champions League and both are phenomenal, a joy to watch.
“Everyone enjoys watching Hakimi, the freedom he plays with, the way he pops up in your box one second then the next he’s back defending in his own. I have huge admiration for all he does – but hopefully he has one of his quiet games here.”
While Robertson was, to an extent, able to enjoy watching him last season, he is set have a more active brief on Friday when Scotland meet Morocco in a pivotal match for both countries’ World Cup ambitions.
Robertson may even be pushed further up the park if Kieran Tierney comes in at left centre half in a back three, as some have forecast might happen to deal with Hakimi’s rampaging threat down the right. Of course, he is not their only threat. Morocco have world-class players all across the pitch, including forward Ismael Saibari. The 25-year-old is moving to Bayern Munich from PSV for a reported £50 million after the World Cup and scored in the 1-1 draw with Brazil on Saturday.
“We know we're playing one of the best in the world,” said Robertson. “But we also believe that if we perform to our maximum, then we can make it difficult for anyone. I think we’ve proven that over the years. It's up to us to be at our best. It's up to us to do what the game plan is. Hopefully if we can do that, we can get the point or the three points that we need to make it.”
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History alone is sufficient motivation to gain a result against Morocco. A point will put Scotland right on the brink of reaching the second stage for the first time. One reporter wondered whether revenge was also on the mind of the players, with Scotland having been trounced 3-0 by Morocco at France ’98. “I was four when the last game happened, so I don't think revenge is the word,” replied Robertson.
“I think I’d have been holding onto that for a very long time if that was the case! No, we look just forward to the game. We’re facing a fantastic team, one of the best in the world. There's no denying how well they’ve done.”