Argentina boss Diego Maradona felt his side were deserved their victory after Maxi Rodriguez’s goal consigned Scotland to defeat at Hampden.
“It was a great experience and I was relaxed throughout,” said Maradona. “It was a clear victory for us.
“We were brilliant for the first 25 minutes and scored a goal but we couldn’t convert our half chances.
“We gave the ball away too easily but even then Scotland couldn’t capitalise so we deserved our victory.
“Scotland are a fine side, they have good players, but we had a different level of skill,” said Maradona.
“They have a chance but if they want to do that, then they will have to raise their game. It will be difficult.”
The new Argentina coach was considerably more optimistic about his team’s chances.
“I have dedicated myself 100% this week to lifting the morale of the players,” said Maradona.
“We needed to get out of a bad run. We reached a low point with the defeat against Chile but it wasn’t a case of blaming other people but working out why.
“The national association didn’t sit back, they appointed a new coach and I have succeeded in removing the fear of defeat from the players.
“It has been a long time since we won and expressed ourselves on the pitch like that. Tonight we played for the blue and white and for the people of Argentina.”
Maradona hugged each of his 11 players as they walked off the pitch following Wednesday’s 1-0 win at Scotland, but the gesture was as much for their support following his daughter’s transfer to a Madrid hospital because of complications in her pregnancy.
Giannina, who is six months pregnant with the child of Argentina striker Sergio Aguero, was taken to a hospital on Tuesday after complaining of pain.
“I’ve been thinking of my daughter and her baby and the lads made things easy for me during a difficult time,” Maradona said. “She was happy for me to be here leading the Argentina side. The players wore the shirt with pride and made me proud.
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