Gerardo Martino, in the face of criticism of the Mexican team: “Our real competition is the Qatar 2022 World Cup”

Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino had to endure a press conference in which the level of the Mexican team was questioned. The ‘Tri’ strategist affirmed that the “real challenge” lies in the World Cup Qatar 2022not in the warm-up friendlies.

”We are clear about where we are going and what we are looking for; the real competition is the World Cup. These games are to try and see what we are going to face in the World Cup. We have to work and with a strong mentality, things will come”he said at a press conference when referring to the Tri’s friendlies.

Mexico defeated Nigeria 2-1 last Saturday, but this Thursday it was thrashed 0-3 by Uruguay, to which Martino gave little importance because the match is part of the training of the team for the World Cup.

”When you face a high level team like Uruguay, your level must grow; I think that Mexico has a team to compete and be able to fight them in a match like in the World Cupl”, explained the strategist.

Martino recalled that the defeats are as much for the footballer as for the coaching staff and everyone makes a self-criticism when things don’t go well.

”It is clear that we do it and we do it in the right place, in the intimacy of the concentration, in the meetings, it is not something that worries me, the lack of self-criticism; we have never dodged it“, said.

Mexico will face Ecuador this Sunday in Chicago in another friendly that will serve Martino to continue his observation period for players who are candidates to play in Qatar. ”There are five months left for the World Cup, we must work and try to get there as well as possible”, he added.

Martino refused to answer whether his position as coach is in danger is something that no one is considering, except for a part of the media, which has repeatedly called for the coach’s departure.