Scotland head coach Pedro Martinez Losa insists he has not given Hungary additional motivation after his daring prediction following the primary leg of their Euro 2025 play-off.
After Friday’s 1-0 victory in Budapest, the Spaniard mentioned in his post-match interview that “there is no way we are going to lose the game at home in Scotland”.
Nonetheless, Martinez Losa performed down the affect of his phrases as he confronted the media in Edinburgh on Monday afternoon.
“I think both teams are more focused on the inside processes,” he mentioned. “I think Hungary was very well prepared for the first leg and they will be prepared again.
“And we might be ready, so I feel that the small print of the sport, aside from what we are able to understand from outdoors, is extra about what we’re going to do nicely on the pitch or not.
“So I will respect the opponent to the maximum level. And the best way to respect the opponent is to prepare to the maximum details also, to prepare the team in the best way possible.”
Requested if he stood by his bullish post-match assertion that Scotland wouldn’t lose, Martinez Losa appeared to back-track barely, indicating that his phrases had been a mirrored image of the mindset of his group and an try to construct up hype forward of the second leg.
“Well, I was referring more in the motivation in the group and the confidence that we have inside, while obviously respecting the opponent,” he mentioned. “But additionally, we acquired a end result the opposite day via the way in which that the sport was, and I feel that’s a side that the group is doing now constantly.
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“On the other side, we are excited about having very talented players coming back to the squad. And that gives us that confidence that we can offer a good game to our fans.
“It was extra the thrill after the sport to return again house with constructing the environment with everybody and be capable to face this problem collectively.
“I think that what you speak at the end of the game is about how you feel.”
If Scotland get previous Hungary on Tuesday, they may face the winners of the tie between Finland and Montenegro within the remaining spherical of the play-off remaining subsequent month. The Finns lead 1-0 from the primary leg.
