With familiar faces back in the fold, Mexico will look to take advantage of two more practices under new coach Javier Aguirre starting Saturday when it faces Valencia in a friendly match.
Goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, forward Raúl Jiménez and midfielder Andrés Guardado, key players for El Tri in recent World Cups, were called up by “Vasco” Aguirre for the match against the Spanish team and for one against the United States on Tuesday in Guadalajara.
“I am happy to be back in the national team, grateful for the opportunity to return,” Jiménez said at a press conference. “It never crossed my mind to give up, they know me and they know that I am a person who wants more. I have gone through difficulties but I never give up, and what better motivation than a World Cup at home?”
Jimenez, who has enjoyed a resurgence with Premier League side Fulham, has not played for the national team since November.
“I have to be ready for any moment when I am needed. I am fully prepared, I want to continue making history in the national team and growing as a footballer,” added the forward. “I am 33 years old, but I never stop learning. I am very satisfied to be here and want to continue transcending.”
Ochoa played his last match with Mexico in March. It was the final of the Nations League, where Mexico lost to the United States.
The goalkeeper, a starter in three of the five World Cups he has played in, has not hidden his desire to participate in an unprecedented sixth World Cup.
“Regarding the return of ‘Memo’ (Ochoa), of Alexis (Vega), of Raúl, I said it from the first minute: there are no closed doors here, I don’t look back,” said Aguirre. “There are footballers with a certain maturity who have gone through different processes and are Mexican, they are playing and can be called up.”
Guardado had not been part of the Mexican national team since the World Cup in Qatar and his return is symbolic. He only returned for a tribute to his career of five World Cups.
“I am proud to share with him (Guardado) his last day in the national team jersey. I had him as a player (2010) and his commitment, his example for the new generations is fantastic. I hope we can give him a joyful night to say goodbye to him as he deserves, with honours,” added the coach.
Ochoa and Jiménez were dropped from the team that participated in the last Copa América, in which Mexico was eliminated in the first round, a result that eventually cost coach Jaime Lozano his job.
Aguirre, who is in his third spell with the national team, took over in August and last month presented himself with a win over New Zealand and a draw against Canada.
Against Valencia, the Mexican team is the favourite because the Spanish team is going through a difficult time and is second to last in the La Liga standings. In addition, they arrived on Mexican soil with only 13 players from the starting squad and had to complete the team with players from the lower divisions.
“They are a young and dynamic team that presses well. They have not had good results at the moment, but there are no easy opponents,” said Aguirre. “They are a Spanish team with a tremendous tradition, with a young and very well-prepared coach. We will see if we are capable of playing a good match.”
The match will take place in Puebla, a city located about 130 kilometers southeast of the country’s capital. It will be the first match for the senior team in that city since 2007, when the Mexican team faced Panama. “We haven’t been to Puebla for many years, but it’s our home, it’s a football city and hopefully we’ll do well,” Aguirre said.