Valakri has suffered some difficult moments since he took charge in October last year.
Despite the positivity externally, has there been any moment in which you have experienced any questions?
“Yes, yes, yes and I have said it many times, when you don’t get results, of course, everyone begins to doubt the things we are doing,” he said.
“Positivity has never gone anywhere because what is the point if we begin to be negative?
“Have I frustrated? Yes, I have been very frustrated, but trust, belief, positivity: it is still there. We do not always have the results we have been wanting, that is the nature of the league.”
The Finnish manager emphasized the need to enjoy his work, even when the results are not in his own way and he firmly believes that St Johnstone has improved under his watch.
“You can see a clear identity in how we want to play, but some moments that we have added another layer, we have a more pragmatic way of going perhaps also a little more long passes,” he added.
“This is how I see football, how it should be: it is a process, you start somewhere, you add layers and then take you somewhere, but it does not affect positivity, because I have spent my life in football and football is fun, you must enjoy reaching your work.
“Yes, the pressure is always there, but you must enjoy coming to work, to enjoy playing with your friends, you must enjoy to get the best out of your career and that is why I think it is much more fun to be positive than crying all the time.”
As the upper flight side, St Johnstone will begin the game as light favorites, but he will need to walk very carefully against a living team that is third in the championship and that are undefeated in their last 11 games in all competitions.
Livi has also claimed a scalp of the Copa de Prosiership in the form of Ross County.
“That is a good example, we see how good it has been Ross’s county, but they were with a game plan, Livingston, they executed it very well, they risked, they defended,” Valakari added.
“They are a very good team with a clear identity as they want to play.
“I know they want to get under pressure, they want to play, they want to come and press up, they want us to commit to some stupid mistakes and then have experience and quality on their side to know how to play these games.
“But we are a good team, in good shape too.
“We have some young players in our team, but they have also been talking to older players.
“Not many times in his career comes this possibility that he can go and play a semifinal in Hampden, which is a great opportunity for us to be in our front foot.
“We go with a positive attitude and at the same time we are not playing the occasion.”
