Sunday 8 October 2017 20:43, UK
Gordon Strachan refused to discuss his Scotland future after his side's 2-2 draw in Slovenia ended their hopes of reaching the World Cup play-offs.
Scotland were pipped to second by Slovakia in Group F, with an inferior goal difference meaning their wait for a first World Cup appearance since 1998 goes on.
Leigh Griffiths had volleyed Scotland in front in Ljubljana, but Roman Bezjak's double turned the game around before Robert Snodgrass' late equaliser.
Scotland failed to find a winner in the dying minutes, and Strachan admitted afterwards it was no time to talk about his future with the players hurting.
"You know what I'm like - at this moment, I'm the last person thinking about [the future] - a lot of people will be thinking about it - but the players in there, I've got to look after them. Not a problem about me. I'm really proud to be the manager," he told Sky Sports.
Pressed if that was a 'maybe', Strachan added: "I was hoping to ramble on and you would run out of time!
"We're hurting but not as much as them [the players] - fans can't hurt like them, I can't hurt like them - so there shouldn't be any talk about what I'm thinking, what I'm doing at this moment in time; I'm thinking about looking after the players."
"They can be proud of themselves and actually it's an honour to be their coach. I've worked with some great bunches of lads and - no disrespect to anyone - they gave as much as anybody I've ever worked with."
Slovakia's 3-0 win over Malta meant it was they who finished second, boasting a greater goal difference than Scotland by five.
"Hopefully nobody in sport will have to feel the way these guys are feeling at the moment. But I think sometimes in life you have to hurt badly before you achieve things," added Strachan.
"And if that's the way things work then the lads will go on - with their country and individual clubs - and achieve great things.
"They come here of their own free will - no one gives them big contracts - and they can be proud of what they have achieved."
