Scotland: Pedro Martinez Losa under no pressure with 'world class' team
- Published
Scotland finished bottom of Nations League Group A1, with two points from six games
Head coach Pedro Martinez Losa stressed he does not feel under any additional pressure after Scotland's poor Nations League campaign, which culminated in a 6-0 home defeat to England.
Naming a Pinatar Cup squad, the Spaniard insisted he has players that can be "world class in many contexts".
Rangers striker Jane Ross - Scotland's second highest all-time goalscorer - returns after a 21-month absence.
"She is one of the best professionals I have ever met," Martinez Losa said.
"She has gone through a process of injuries but now she is looking in good form.
"We have had continuous conversations with Jane, Rangers and the manager to know if she was in the best position, so we all agreed that now she was ready, which is good news for us.
"She knows the role she needs to play in every moment on and off the pitch for the team and it is always a pleasure to work with her."
Capped 146 times by Scotland, Ross, 34, has scored 11 goals in eight matches for Rangers since returning from an ACL injury.
Later this month, Scotland will face the Philippines and either Slovenia or Finland in the invitational tournament in preparation for the Euro 2025 qualifiers that begin in April.
BBC Alba will broadcast both games from Spain.
Alongside Ross, club-mate Chelsea Cornet is also recalled, as are Hibernian defender Leah Eddie and Glasgow City midfielder Hayley Lauder.
Abi Harrison, Emma Mukandi, Rachel McLauchlan - who all featured in the England defeat - drop out, as do Amy Gallacher and Kirsty Maclean.
'I never expected this to be a rosy journey'
The result against Sarina Wiegman's European champions brought scrutiny to Martinez Losa - who could not steer Scotland to last summer's World Cup - and attention to the SFA's decision to offer him a contract extension until 2027 at the beginning of the campaign back in September.
When asked if he feels there is more pressure, he twice replied "no", adding: "You asked me if I feel more pressure. It is a friendly game so I think pressure is when it will be the Euro [qualifiers] with Scotland."
The former Arsenal boss said he understands the criticism and disappointment but added there is much to be excited about.
"I have a role here that I am privileged to have every day," he said.
"We have become a team who can be world class in many contexts. That has already given us the capability to compete. Losing players like Emma Watson and Caroline Weir... they were the two players, plus others, that were helping us to link the final third connections.
"Exciting and challenging times are coming up. I never expected this to be a rosy journey. Hopefully, with the media we can work together, we all want Scotland to qualify so the narrative sometimes we describe has a lot of influence on how we perceive things. We are a team developing and a team to be excited about."
Scotland squad:
Goalkeepers: Jenna Fife (Rangers), Lee Gibson (Glasgow City), Sandy MacIver (Manchester City)
Defenders: Jenna Clark (Liverpool), Rachel Corsie (Aston Villa), Nicola Docherty (Rangers), Leah Eddie (Hibernian), Sophie Howard (Leicester City)
Midfielders: Fiona Brown (Glasgow City), Chelsea Cornet (Rangers), Erin Cuthbert (Chelsea), Lisa Evans (Bristol City), Christy Grimshaw (AC Milan), Sam Kerr (Bayern Munich), Hayley Lauder (Glasgow City), Jamie Lee Napier (Bristol City), Amy Rodgers (Bristol City)
Forwards: Lauren Davidson (Glasgow City), Claire Emslie (Angel City FC), Kirsty Hanson (Aston Villa), Brogan Hay (Rangers), Jane Ross (Rangers), Martha Thomas (Tottenham Hotspur)