St Mirren's Stephen Robinson Calls for Players to Embrace Pressure Ahead of New Season

St Mirren Manager Stephen Robinson Embraces New Season Pressures

St Mirren's manager, Stephen Robinson, has encouraged his team to "embrace the pressure" that comes with the heightened expectations following their impressive performance last season. The Buddies secured a top-six finish in the Scottish Premiership and have qualified for European competition for the first time in 37 years.

Upcoming Matches for St Mirren

The season kicks off at home against Hibernian on August 4, just three days after they face Icelandic club Valur in the second leg of the Europa Conference League qualifying round.

The Journey to Success

Robinson, who has been at the helm in Paisley since 2022, anticipates the added expectations for both himself and the squad. "St Mirren has experienced ups and downs historically, but now we have achieved stability in the Premiership with two consecutive top-six finishes and European qualification," he stated in an interview with Sky Sports News.

Realizing Fan Expectations

"With success comes increased expectations, and that’s just the way it is in football. Our fans rightfully expect more, and we aim to continue to build on our achievements over the last couple of seasons," Robinson added.

Strategies for Maintaining Performance

While acknowledging that there will be challenging moments, he emphasized the importance of retaining their core beliefs. "It’s crucial that we embrace the pressure—even when things don’t go according to plan—by making necessary tweaks while staying true to our fundamental strategy and faith in our players and the club."

New Signings Strengthen the Squad

This summer, Robinson has brought in six new signings and made the moves for James Scott and Jaden Brown permanent. "I’m happy with the recruitment. We've ensured that we have depth in every position, building a competitive squad of around 20–21 players who can surpass last season’s performance," noted Robinson.

A Balanced Team Composition

He highlighted the integration of younger players, aiming for a mixture of youth and experience that was perhaps lacking in the previous year, making the squad more formidable and adaptable.

Scottish Premiership Viewing Options

As for fans wanting to catch all the action, Sky Sports has committed to broadcasting up to 60 games from the Scottish Premiership from the 2024/25 season, alongside coverage of the Scottish Women's Premier League. With 24/7 reporting via Sky Sports News and additional content shared across various Sky Sports Digital platforms, fans will have ample opportunity to stay connected to their favorite teams.

Conclusion

With a focus on embracing expectations and enhancing the team's depth, Stephen Robinson leads St Mirren into a promising new season. Fans can look forward to not just competitive fixtures, but a squad that aims to deliver results on and off the pitch.