“Tata” Martino: Efrain Alvarez is 100% ours; Funes Mori’s Appeal Is “A Natural, Natural Thing”

After losing the Nations League final to the United States, Gerardo “Tata” Martino is approaching a critical moment in his career as Mexico coach: he faces the 2021 Gold Cup, where there are expectations of victory, and the World Cup qualifiers. , where he is also expected to qualify smoothly, a position many coaches have held in the past. However, in this crowding of tournaments, the Olympics were also bypassed, a competition already won by Mexico and considered by the Argentine coach to be “the most important competition after the World Cup”.

Prior to those tournaments, Mexico will play a friendly match against Panama in Nashville, Tennessee, with players likely to play next month in Tokyo 2020. After that, El Tri will play another friendly match against Nigeria at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

The Argentine coach, with Gerardo Torrado, director of the Mexican national teams, will have to balance the players who will lead the Gold Cup and the Olympic Games. ‘Tata’ stated in an interview with the Los Angeles Times that the number of competitions this year has kept him from putting together the best items in a single tournament, but he is happy to see the careers of Diego Linez, Uriel Antona, Carlos Rodriguez and Sebastian. Cordova, Gerardo Arteaga, among others.

“In a way it puts us all in the competition, judging by what’s coming up, which is the most important thing in September, the qualifying rounds,” Martino said.

The coach said he has a lot of faith in the present and future of Mexico’s young players, just as with the US team under the current set of elements in Europe.

“We are also in an advantageous position, because we not only have the youngsters, but the youngsters as well have been able to win a place to take part in the Olympics, which also speaks very well of young players who can be in a great team,” said the 58-year-old coach. I think we are both in the process of changing. In our case we are supporting some older players, but they are still very important, but we also have a large percentage of young players with great potential.”

Another young element in Martino’s sights is Efrain Alvarez, the Galaxy’s attacking player who has been prominent recently with LA. Alvarez hasn’t made an official decision about the Mexican or American national team, but Martino is sure he has the Mexican American.

“Evren is 100 percent of ours. Today there is no 50/50. There is no 60/40. He’s a footballer that I actually did on tour last year, and he participated and will definitely continue to do soon. Efrain is like Linz, like Carlitos Rodriguez. [Roberto] Alvarado, like Antona, is part of the future, not only from the present, but also from the future of the Mexican national team.”

About Carlos Vela, the all-time top scorer in the MLS and LAFC, Martino explained that he met him one day in Los Angeles, they chatted with him and soon after, left him some questions he had to solve.

“He told me that he would prefer to prioritize his club and family, and then the situation was practically over at that moment. And I think that for a thinking person like Carlos, who is very clear about what he wants to do, it is very important to define it calmly and above all to be consistent with his ideas. It seems to me that it has been so permanently in his career, ”explained the Argentine.

Carlos Vela during a game against the Houston Dynamo.

(Steve Galuzzo/For The Times)

Martino, who has more variants in attack, called up Rogelio Funes Mori, a naturalized Argentine-Mexican player, which led to a lot of criticism. The Rosario, Argentina native understands the attitudes of some fans and sectors of the Mexican press as being against naturalized footballers.

“Not all of us have to think the same, but all of this would also be very boring. And I think there are examples of naturalized footballers all over the world, as well as in superpowers. I would even say natural, natural. But is it permissible to differ? From It’s okay to think differently, right? As I said before, we don’t all have to think alike. What we need is to make decisions for the good, and the welfare of the Mexican national team, and we try to do that by making as few mistakes as possible. So in this We are very optimistic. I think the choice we made is the right one. But hey, it all comes down to time and depending on what’s going on with our team.”

The striker was seen smiling in practice.

(repair agency)

On the other hand, the Argentine coach indicated that the concern is currently “capital” for more potential penalties on Tre due to the anti-gay yelling heard in the stands at Mexico matches when the opposing goalkeeper is gone. Because of this shouting, Tre will have to play their first two World Cup qualifiers without fans and the penalty could be even greater, as Mexico could lose points.

“The concern really is that it’s just too big. Sanctions began to arrive. I think it is unfair for the players to deny themselves playing without their people, without the support we all know they can give to Mexican fans and especially to their national team. And it’s also a great wake-up call for people to help us, to collaborate. Because really, not only our tie, but our participation in the next World Cup, could be in danger. So the concern is capital.”

“When you talk about the national team, you are not just talking about a group of players or a coaching staff, you are talking about an entire country. Citing the last game in Atlanta against Honduras where the behavior of people was exemplary, Martino said, I think in that sense, as a representative of the country we are all in, we all have to take responsibility.