JOSE Mourinho, the renowned Portuguese football manager, says he was left deeply impressed by Scotland as Steve Clarke's side ground out a goalless draw at Wembley on Friday night.
The Roma coach, who worked alongside Clarke at Chelsea between 2004 and 2007, appeared on talkSPORT, where he gushed about the away side's performance in London.
Mourinho singled out 20-year-old Billy Gilmour, who made his full international debut in the stalemate, for praise as he described the playmaker as "fantastic".
But it wasn't just the diminutive midfielder that caught the Special One's eye.
He said: "I think they were amazing. [Kieran] Tierney, Gilmour and [Che] Adams, they didn’t play the last match, but they made the difference.
"They played again with five at the back, but Scott McTominay is a midfield player; he can build. Tierney is a left-back player; he can build.
"Hanley is, in my opinion, much more comfortable playing in the middle than on the right. He was solid, but at the same time they had more possession and were more fluid with the ball.
"Gilmour, he made the difference. He was fantastic. He was always moving, always showing himself. He wanted the ball, he linked up the game much, much better.
"[John] McGinn was in a position where he could be a bit higher and the front two were absolutely incredible. They were in control of their emotions but they brought them to the game.
"The last action of the game, minute 92, is an example of their mentality of how they were ready to come.
"They were coming not just for a football match, but to play a football match against England at Wembley. It was clearly part of Steve and his staff. It was to unite the squad and get them to play.
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"In this moment they go home with this historic result but the door is open for them to qualify. Now they play at home to Croatia gives qualification.
"They were so solid. We were speaking before about their defensive block. It was low in front, but when they were recovering the ball they were not afraid to project forward.
"The right-back [Stephen O'Donnell] almost scored an amazing goal. [Scotland captain Andy] Robertson is Robertson.
"The two strikers are not super skilful players but their work rate was tremendous and their work rate, the midfield three, they had it. They were not afraid to join in in attacking areas.
"For me they did very well, and were even better than what I could expect.
"They put England in a position where, my feeling was, they didn't want to lose in the last 15 minutes. I could feel England were more on the side of pragmatism.
"I didn't see any risk of desire to try and gambling and win the game."
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