CORDOBA, Mexico -- Mexico's interim coach Ricardo "Tuca" Ferretti wasn't impressed with his team's performance in the team's 2-0 loss to Argentina on Friday, hinting that the incoming full-time manager has much work to do with the younger group of players.
Ramiro Funes Mori and an own goal from Isaac Brizuela handed Argentina a comfortable win, although Mexico had two early chances to take the lead, with Raul Jimenez hitting the crossbar and Marco Fabian spawning a one-on-one with goalkeeper Agustin Marchesin.
"We were a long way off today, I was hoping the players would play better," said Ferretti after the game in the news conference. "We made a lot of mistakes and players at this level shouldn't do."
"Far is a drastic word, but it's true we have a lot of work to do."
Mexico striker Alan Pulido stressed that the missed chances altered the game, but added that the match was useful experience for a squad missing Javier Hernandez, Hector Herrera, Andres Guardado and Hector Moreno.
"There were two opportunities that is we had put in would've changed the course of the game," Pulido told reporters afterwards. "But these types of games are useful practice against national teams like Argentina."
Mexico travels to Mendoza on Sunday for Tuesday's second game against Argentina -- its final match of 2018 -- with Ferretti hoping his side can radically turn things around.
"We have to reassess certain things, we have to give opportunities to players with distinct characteristics," said Ferretti. I think we'll see a very different game than we saw today."
Wolves striker Raul Jimenez, Standard Liege's Guillermo Ochoa and Villarreal player Miguel Layun all left the Mexico camp to return to their clubs after the game, with Queretaro's Hiram Mier called in for Tuesday's match in Mendoza.
Nestor Araujo will also be leaving Mexico's camp, with tests carried out on Saturday confirming the center-back has a left hamstring injury. He will return to Celta Vigo for treatment.