Scots must train harder - Lambert

Lambert enjoyed success in Germany with Borussia Dortmund

Former Scotland skipper Paul Lambert believes Scottish clubs will lag behind their foreign counterparts until training regimes change.

Motherwell manager Mark McGhee admitted his men were some way short of their Uefa Cup conquerors Nancy, who are a mid-table side in France.

Lambert, who left Fir Park for a spell at Borussia Dortmund in 1996, said: "You have to train the way you play.

"In Germany, football is more of a job, whereas here it's seen as a hobby."

Scotland's European record has been dismal this season, with Rangers, Celtic, Motherwell, Hibernian and Queen of the South failing to register a win in 10 attempts.

Celtic remain in the Champions League group phase with four games to play, but the others were humbled at the first hurdle by opponents from Lithuania, Sweden, Denmark and France.

"When I first moved over to Germany, it was an eye opener for me, no doubt about it," added Lambert, who was in Dortmund's Champions League winning side in 1997.

In Britain we work with the ball just as much as they do abroad Paul Lambert

"When I played for St Mirren and Motherwell, you classed yourself as a professional, but when I went over there the difference was huge.

"The Germans train the way they play - they never vary from it.

"They play in the positions they would for a game on a Saturday.

"I couldn't go and play as a striker or in defence. I had to play where I'd be on a match-day, which was perfect for me.

"It was physical. If you went in for a tackle in training, you'd make sure you came out with the ball because they didn't want to lose, even in training.

"It was a great mentality to have, the tempo was always really high. It was never stop-start, stop-start and they never wilted. It was terrific."

Lambert joined Celtic after his 15 months with Dortmund and revealed that Martin O'Neill's training methods were similar to those used by German coach Ottmar Hitzfield.

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"At Celtic, training was always intense," he said. "We had success at Celtic; we had success at Dortmund."

Lambert moved into management with Livingston in 2005 but lasted less than a year, while he ended a two-year spell at Wycombe Wanderers in May.

When asked if he had encountered resistance to new training styles, Lambert replied: "No doubt about it. You can't just come in and sweep everything away, because British players are brought up differently.

"In Britain, we work with the ball just as much as they do abroad.

"The Germans take it really seriously, which is not to say British players don't, because they do. It's just a different kind of football.

"The crowd is more patient, whereas here in Scotland the game is 100 miles per hour and the crowd will you on.

"That's probably what happened to Motherwell. The crowd were roaring them on and, before you know it, you find yourselves a goal down."