Mixu Paatelainen believes he could have delivered trophies and European football to Dundee United if he was given more time
The former Arabs boss discusses his time as Tannadice boss, his learning curve away from management and his links to the St Mirren job
MIXU PAATELAINEN believes he could have delivered trophies at Dundee United if he was given more time.
Paatelainen has been out of work since being sacked by the Arabs in May after failing to keep them in the Premiership.
City rivals Dundee rubbed salt in the wounds by hammering the final nail in United’s coffin, relegating them after a 2-1 win in the derby at Dens.
But Paatelainen maintains that United’s fate was already sealed having lost the likes of Stuart Armstrong, Gary Mackay-Steven, Ryan Gauld and Andy Robertson under Jackie McNamara’s reign.
He said: "I inherited a team that had lost a full team of key players. I wasn't given enough time, that's for sure.
“I know I would have turned things round there and made the club really strong again.
“We could have challenged for European places and cup finals on a regular basis. I know that.
"But that's the way football works now. I don't have any regrets that I joined Dundee United even though it turned out to be a short spell, because I know I'm better off now. I know what to do differently and what to do better.
"If you lose so many influential players and don't replace them with as high a calibre of player, then obviously the standard on the pitch will be worse.
“That can only be cured by time and improving existing players. But also recruiting, and you improve the
team through that.
The The ex-Hibs and Bolton striker reckons he has learned a lot since his time on Tayside and that his experience in Dundee has helped shape him as a boss.
Even the pitfalls he suffered through - like only being given the January transfer window to manoeuvre through - have helped mould him into a better, more experienced coach.
And he insists he's better off now than he was back in October 2015 - when he was first appointed manager of the Terrors by chairman Stephen Thompson.
He said: "Recently in the past two or three months I've been able to watch a lot of football and thinking about what I've done in the past, right and wrong in my view, and put things together from Dundee United and before that.
“So when the opportunity comes again for a new challenge - I'm better off and won't make the same mistakes again.
"That's what it's all about for me. It's all about learning and experiencing different things.
“I've had experiences at the top and bottom of the league and I regard my experience as very valuable because you never know what challenges you face in the future, what kind of opportunities you get.
"But when you are given only the January window - which is not a proper window - you can only bring in players who are not wanted somewhere else.
“That window is very limited so it was difficult to do that using only January.
“I feel that if there was a summer window to operate in, United would have a good, fighting, improving squad if I was there.
While the Finn reckons he wasn't afforded enough time to turn things around at Tannadice, he's been using his spell out of work to learn from the likes of Sir Alex Ferguson and England gaffer Gareth Southgate ahead of his next job.
He said: “"In my downtime since, I was a technical observer for UEFA at the European Championships in the summer.
“That was great for the whole duration of the Championships over there.
"Analysing matches and discussing tactical things with guys like Sir Alex Ferguson, Gareth Southgate and some other top foreign coaches and technical directors - that was great.
"That has kept me busy, and I've had time to travel and recharge the batteries."
Asked if he had the opportunity to pick the brains of some of the world's best coaches, Mixu replied: "Absolutely! We had loads of discussions and a lot of fantastic football talk.
“We were all observing matches, the same teams. We exchanged views of how the teams played and what we saw tactically.”
Paatelainen is adamant that his next job must be the right one for him, but he claims it doesn't necessarily need to be in the Scottish Premiership.
Earlier this season, he was interviewed for the then-vacant manager's post at his former club St Mirren.
After he decided to rule himself out of contention, the role eventually landed at the door of Jack Ross.
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But he was never put off by the challenge of helping the Paisley club climb up the Championship table.
He added: "I wasn't bothered at all that St Mirren were back in the Championship or not doing too well.
“I'm not someone who is afraid of a challenge. I'm not afraid to get my hands dirty to improve things.
"It happened when I was at Hibs, Kilmarnock, Dundee United and even the Finland national team.
“Money isn't the bottom line for me, the bottom line for me is experience, learning to do well and be successful.
"So I didn't think twice about St Mirren being in the Championship or in a poor position. Hopefully they climb up and I wish them all the best."
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