Kevin Thomson’s approach doesn’t change – whether he is facing Lionel Messi, Cowdenbeath or St Mirren.
The in-demand boss is making a real name for himself with runaway League Two leaders Kelty Hearts.
Thomson caused the shock of the last round after they stunned Scottish Cup holders St Johnstone.
They will continue their cup adventure when they head to Paisley, looking to try and add another Premiership scalp on this glory run.
Thomson knows that Jim Goodwin ’s side will be favourites but Kelty will go in with the same approach he took as a player and now he has firmly embraced as a manager.
Thomson said: “When I was a player I went into every game believing that we could give any team a game. I got that from the day I went to Rangers.
“The pressure was on to try and win every game. We weren’t always going to win every game but you had to make sure you gave everything and gave yourself the best opportunity.
“It didn’t matter if we were playing Barcelona in the Champions League or I was up against Lionel Messi.
“I went in believing we could give things a real go and I have gone into management in exactly the same way.
“You might not win every game but you have to do everything you can to give your team the best chance, regardless of who you are up against.”
The element of surprise may have gone with the St Johnstone win. Thomson is well aware St Mirren are now on the top-flight rise and into the top six. He accepts Kelty might hit their A game and that might not be enough on the day.
The former Rangers star and coach admitted: “We will go with a plan. I want the boys to believe that if they play to the plan and can play the way we know we can then even if we lose then I will take the defeat or not so good days on the chin.
“We are all in it together and we have to come up with a plan that gives us the chance to win any game. We could play out of our skins and we could still come up short. We have no given right to beat St Mirren, as a League Two team.”
The league new boys have already made club history getting this far in the competition.
“The boys have been brilliant and the win over St Johnstone in the cup has put us on the map a little bit,” Thomson stated. “If we get to the end of the season and we get some success in the league then it will be what we tried to achieve.
“We are 10 points clear with a game in hand but there is still a long way to go.”
Thomson’s early success has already brought him to the attention of Kilmarnock and is likely to bring plenty of more upcoming managerial opportunities. He makes no secret of his desire to manage at the highest level he can, adding: “The club knew when they approached that I wanted to manage at the very top or as high as I can.
“I want to get to the top jobs in the country.
“I just want to be the best manager I can be at the highest level I can be, wherever that takes me.”
