Malky Mackay will be cheering Aberdeen on in Conference League tie against Eintracht Frankfurt – before plotting the Dons' downfall with Ross County on Sunday
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Malky Mackay may be plotting Aberdeen's downfall on Sunday – but he will be rooting them on in the Conference League against Eintracht Frankfurt tomorrow night.
The former Scottish FA performance director will be taking Ross County to Pittodrie this weekend, but the Dons have continental action to take care of before then.
Scottish clubs outside the Old Firm have struggled to make an impact on the European stage in recent years, which in turn has had a knock-on effect on their domestic form.
Perhaps most striking was Dundee United, who were relegated from the Premiership last season having started the campaign in a Conference League qualifier – and they never seemed to recover from a 7-0 dismantling at the hands of AZ Alkmaar.
So while Mackay will be hoping Aberdeen can do Scotland proud in Germany ahead of the Staggies' trip to the North East on Sunday, he knows it may be a difficult balancing act for opposite number Barry Robson.
"I'm a proud Scot – I have worked for Scotland, played for them and managed them," Mackay said.
"I want the best for our country, and if our clubs do well our coefficient improves. More money then comes into the country from UEFA and our standing in the world stage looks better.
"To see Celtic, Rangers, Aberdeen, Hearts and Hibs compete is great. I want to see our clubs go as far as they can.
"I cheer them all on. It's great for Scotland, as well as the Scottish players who play for these clubs, to get more experiences, which will help them become Scotland players.
"It's really tough though. You have seen it with Hearts and Hibs, and last year with Dundee United's dreadful result and the aftermath of it.
"Reaching Europe is a fantastic celebration and I have been lucky enough to play in Europe, but for clubs outwith the Old Firm to manage it, it is so hard. I don't care which city club it is, it's so hard in this country, given the size and depths of our squads.
"The travelling aspect of it is intense. We have all seen that over the last few weeks with some of the results.
"I am sure Barry would rather not have had to go there Thursday night and play us on Sunday, but that's the gig when you're in Europe."
When Sunday's match does eventually come around, County will be looking to deny Aberdeen a first league win of the season.
Mackay knows exactly how it feels to be sitting without a victory at this stage of the campaign, going a full 10 matches without success in his first season in Dingwall – before memorably turning things around and going on to secure a top-six finish.
He can relate to what Robson may be feeling, then, but that does not mean County will even slightly take their foot off the gas this weekend.
"I don't sympathise with Barry, but do I understand it? Absolutely," Mackay added.
"It is part of a manager's job to keep balance – you are never as bad as someone thinks, nor are you as good as people think – and it appears from his interviews he's doing that.
"The manager's job is to keep the ship steady, despite waves and despite turbulent times. Everyone looks at you as the captain of the ship. If you are panicking and all over the place, people are jumping overboard.
"As long as you are putting the work in and you have a clear picture of where you think things are going, of the people around you, and of the plan that you have, and most importantly the dialogue you have with your boss, that's when you can do your best work.
"Invariably, at every point in my career, times of turbulence generally make you better.
"You come through it. Sometimes that ends with you losing your job, but the longer you are in it, the more experiences you have to call back on and to look and not react to in a certain manner. You have got to be that steadying hand."
