St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari has expressed his pride and nervousness ahead of the club's first match in a higher division, facing Kilmarnock. Speaking to BBC Scotland, Valakari said: 'It’s a very proud moment to be here, we deserve it. But at the same time, we feel nervous. We don't know where we are with the team, but we are excited.'
Valakari continued by reflecting on the challenges and growth his team has undergone since their relegation last year: 'We went through so much last year, the players grew together. It's nice to have this continuity. We've added a few players, and it’s a different level. We need to test ourselves to see where we are, but we need to be ready for this first minute.'
The manager emphasized the importance of maintaining their identity while acknowledging the need for improvement: 'I’ve reflected a lot, I believe we are a better team and club than we were [when relegated]. How we played last year was the best way to win the Championship, we have our identities and values. We do not want to be a naive, romantic team who plays nice football and loses matches. We need to be solid and streetwise.'
Despite the excitement and optimism, Valakari remains grounded: 'We are going into this game with a lot of respect for Kilmarnock. They have been in the top flight recently and they will be ready. We need to be at our best if we want to win this match.'
