Friday, January 28, 2011

McLeish happy to handle pressure

Manager Alex McLeish is thriving on the pressure of trying to keep Birmingham City in the Barclays Premier League.

McLeish has led Blues to their first major Wembley cup final in 55 years after a dramatic Carling Cup semi-final triumph over West Ham United on Wednesday night.
Despite his delight at that significant achievement, McLeish has stressed his priority is to keep his side in the top flight.
And he has shrugged off comments from acting chairman Peter Pannu who appeared to question the value of some of McLeish's signings at the weekend. McLeish accepts it is a results-driven business but is adamant he is working in harmony with the board to bring in new signings before the transfer window shuts on Monday.

Good Support
He said: "Every job is a challenge and you've got to make the best of it.
"Let me tell you if I had to leave tomorrow through disillusionment then there would be a queue from here to Glasgow wanting my job.
"But I cherish this job and I want to make the best of it and I don't want to fail.
"Obviously you need a bit of help in terms of everything - support from the fans and the board.
"We're all in it together. We've all got to help each other and that's what's happening and I'm getting good support.
"It's a results-driven business. It's about results and, at the end of the day, the manager is the most important person because, when things go wrong, he is the person that gets fired.
"I'm aware of the challenges but I've been aware of that for a long, long time having managed Scotland and Rangers where you are one game away from a crisis.
"I've got experience and expectation levels. I don't think buying me time here has ever been in question. I don't feel at all threatened.
"I see everything as a challenge. I don't see anything as a threat.
"I'm privilege to be involved in the game at this level and I want to go even higher in the game. It is a great challenges ahead but I don't feel under any threat."

Expectation Levels
McLeish is aware of the need for Birmingham to climb clear of the relegation zone in the Barclays Premier League.
He said: "It's about the expectation levels. I know what they are in the Barclays Premier and in England.
"It doesn't faze me or get me down if people are speculating 'oh, another bad result and he could be on a shaky peg'.
"That's life in this league. We are near the foot of the table so I would understand there would be that kind of talk.
"I'm not looking for people to blow smoke up my backside saying that 'Alex is near the bottom of the league but he should be applauded because he's great.' I know we've got to get higher up the league."

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