Chile's Argentine coach Marcelo Bielsa said he was a worse character nowadays than when he coached his homeland at the 2002 World Cup finals.

"I don't think there is such a difference - save for the fact I feel older and my health and character are worse," opined the laconic Bielsa at Nelspruit on Tuesday as his team prepared for Wednesday's Group H match against Honduras.

A reporter had wanted to know if 54-year-old Bielsa - who did guide Argentina to the 2004 Olympic gold medal - had changed from the man who suffered a first-round knockout eight years ago.

"Eight years have passed and you can't compare then and now," said Bielsa, who took the opportunity to praise Diego Maradona's current Argentina side for "playing very attacking football" in their 1-0 win over Nigeria.

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