Sir Alex Ferguson's belief in Scott McTominay's potential has been spectacularly vindicated following the midfielder's heroics for Scotland. McTominay scored a breathtaking overhead kick to open the scoring in Scotland's historic 4-2 victory over Denmark, a result that secured their place in the World Cup for the first time since 1998.
A Night of Scottish Glory
In a thrilling encounter at Hampden Park, Scotland topped their qualifying group by decisively putting Denmark to the sword. The monumental victory stamps their ticket to the upcoming World Cup in North America, ending a 27-year wait for the nation.
McTominay set the tone for the historic night with a sensational acrobatic effort, bagging the crucial opener. This triumphant moment caps an incredibly successful year for the 28-year-old, who also won the league title with his club side, Napoli, following his £25.7million move from Manchester United in 2024.
Ferguson's Foresight and United's Regret
The midfielder's rise will come as no surprise to the most successful manager in Manchester United's history. Sir Alex Ferguson had long tipped McTominay for greatness at Old Trafford. Back in 2021, Ferguson highlighted the player's emerging importance, telling the Scottish FA, "Scott McTominay is now emerging as one of Man United's big players."
Ferguson elaborated on his qualities, stating, "When you watch Man United pick their team for a big game, McTominay's name is in it. He's a good character, a great trainer. I know a little bit about the boy and I think that's the background." Having been with United from the age of five, McTominay was deeply ingrained in the club's culture.
However, the club's hands were tied in August 2024. Then-manager Erik ten Hag admitted the sale was "a little bit mixed", confessing, "I wouldn't prefer to lose him. He is Manchester United in everything. He was so important for Manchester United." Ten Hag cited the significant value of homegrown players in relation to the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) as a key factor in the difficult decision.
Thriving in Italy and Leading Scotland
Since his departure, any potential regret at Old Trafford has only grown. McTominay was named the Serie A MVP for his instrumental role in Napoli's title-winning campaign. Now, he is World Cup-bound after his wondergoal for Scotland, cementing his status as a pivotal player on the international stage.
The euphoric mood in the Scottish camp was captured by captain Andy Robertson. "This group of boys, this group of staff, it's the best group I've been involved in," Robertson said. He described the manager's pre-game speech as "unbelievable" and emotionally charged, adding, "To do it for him, the staff and all our families, it'll go down as one of the greatest nights of my life."
Robertson summed up the team's spirit, stating, "That just sums up this squad. Never say die. We just keep going right to the end... We're going to the World Cup." With McTominay at the heart of this success, Sir Alex Ferguson's prophetic words have never rung more true.
