MY GOAL IS TO GET US TO A FINALS
FROM BACK PAGE the experience of the last 10 days but still hailed the trip a success despite the loss in the Azteca and a 2-0 reverse in Peru.
Big Eck is unapologetic for using 32 players since his return as boss against Costa Rica in March and has capped 16 new faces, including nine in the last week alone.
He said: “No doubt there will be some people still not happy.
“I don’t like defeats and it would have been great if we’d taken something out of one of the games – and we could have taken something out of both of them.
“But I am not worried about not having a great game record for myself, it is about getting this country to a major finals.
“The tour worked out, we made it a good trip. Every single person involved was so positive that it made everybody smile. There was no negativity.
“Would I do it again? Well if we were going to the World Cup and playing in the United States – and they are bidding with Canada and Mexico for 2026 – I’d think about coming to the Americas and playing a couple of matches for the heat and the altitude.
“By and large, you would maybe prepare more at home. However, I got nothing on this trip but positivity from this group of players.
“They were very professional and played a couple of good games.
“Guys who may not have been on the radar to play for the national team but every one of them has enhanced his reputation.”
McLeish admits the trial period is over as he begins the countdown over the summer to his first competitive game in charge at home to Albania in the UEFA Nations League in September.
Former boss Berti Vogts was previously criticised for handing out caps “like sweeties”.
But McLeish insists he’s had to gauge the suitability of several new players after more than two decades of failure to make the World Cup or the European Championship.
He added: “We haven’t qualified for a major tournament in 22 years so I’ve had to try something different.
“Gordon Strachan was unlucky and we’ve looked at games over the last four or five years where our Achilles heel has always been one mistake.
“It was amazing for this group of players to come to the Azteca and stand up to it.
“Those who have never played at this level have no idea what it’s like.
“These guys deserve enormous credit for walking on to that pitch and standing tall and proud. They’ve done their careers no harm at all.”