Scotland’s right-back Stephen O’Donnell reckons he has figured out how to get better with Jack Grealish: be kind to him and praise his calves.
O’Donnell was one of Scotland’s star players when they matched England across the pitch at Wembley on Friday and came away with a point that kept their Euro 2020 hopes alive.
He was heavily criticized for his performance against the Czech Republic in Scotland’s opening game and many fans wanted him to be lost for the trip to London. But even with England focused on his flank, he delivered a heroic display that kept Phil Foden and Mason Mount under cover, which led to Gareth Southgate throwing at Grealish in the final half hour.
The Aston Villa star appeared from the bench and looked like a movie star, but he soon learned that his silky dribbling would get him nowhere against the robust Motherwell defender. With 86 minutes on the clock, he tracked Grealish deep into his own half and kicked him into touch.
O’Donnell told Scotland headquarters: “I was just getting a little tired at that stage of the game, he was just coming, he was nice and fresh.
“Normally when the new wingers come on you’re a little tired so I thought, ‘I just need to hit him here.’ I got tired of him trying to remove the mic from me so I gave him a little hit.”
He went on to reveal that the secret to keeping Grealish quiet came from his Aston Villa team-mate John McGinn, who recommended an … unorthodox method of getting in his head.
Stephen O’Donnell revealed what happened between him and Jack Grealish on this morning’s #ScotlandHQ – and the tips he received from John McGinn …?
➡️ Get through the whole episode here: https://t.co/UllsrqDI2E pic.twitter.com/OlQLksc6ZM
– Scotland National Team (@ScotlandNT) 20 June 2021
“Thank goodness John McGinn had given me some tips, he said if he comes again you have to nibble on the ear but don’t be critical, be free,” O’Donnell continued.
“So when he was full time I told him how handsome he was and I love his calves and asked how he made his hair look like that.
“He said if you tell him he’s hopeless or kicks him really, really hard, he’s getting up and giving it back to you. Maybe that was the advantage over Jack Grealish the other night.”
