DIEGO MARADONA today sent a warning to Scotland ahead of their friendly at Hampden when he said: "Argentina don't play friendlies."

Maradona arrived in Glasgow yesterday amid a media frenzy to prepare for his eagerly awaited first match in charge of his country.

And the football legend is taking the match with George Burley's men on Wednesday night seriously. He said: "A nation like Argentina does not play friendlies. We are in the middle of a World Cup campaign and Wednesday night's match must be treated in the same way.

"My players must fight from the very first minute to win the ball against Scotland. I hope to see a greater performance from the squad than the last match against Chile."

Meanwhile, Maradona believes he has plenty of options to replace the absent Juan Roman Riquelme and Lionel Messi on his debut as Argentina coach against Scotland in Glasgow on Wednesday.

Maradona, who was appointed as coach on November 4, is denied the services of the star duo as Riquelme's club side Boca Juniors are locked in a title fight in the Apertura tournament.

They came to an agreement with the Argentina Football Association, while Barcelona have negotiated that Messi will not play in friendly fixtures except under exceptional circumstances.

Maradona, however, is confident he has the personnel to cope without the pair.

The 48-year-old said: "We must not stand there with our arms crossed just because we cannot count on Riquelme nor Messi. We must search for variety, options, and we have them.

"Even without them, we will play for victory against Scotland."

Maradona, who has endured a host of personal problems since retiring from playing, is revitalised by his appointment.

"I feel like I never left," he said. "I feel the same perfume, the same smell, the same need, the same motivation, the same commitment."

Argentinian FA president Juilo Grondona, who has been at loggerheads with Maradona over the appointment of his 1986 World Cup team-mate Oscar Ruggeri as his No.2, admitted he feels some trepidation ahead of the Scotland match.

He commented: "It is like getting married. On your wedding night, you wonder what is going to happen. You want the first night to be special. We all hope it will be fantastic on Wednesday."