What began as a “gentlemen’s agreement” to support the Mexican National Team in the run-up to the World Cup ended up as a media and managerial battlefield.
In the most recent program of Los Jefes Deportes, a production of Nueva Network and QuéOnnda, the panel led by the controversial Álvaro Morales broke down the conflict that shook the Mexican Soccer Federation (FMF).
Amauri Vergara’s handshake
The fuse was lit when Toluca tried to “go overboard” and keep their national team for the second leg of the Conca-Champions, breaking the previous concentration agreement.
This unleashed the fury of Chivas owner Amauri Vergara, who did not stand idly by.
“Agreements are to be respected,” said Amauri, ordering his players to return to the club if Toluca did not comply.
In response to this challenge, the FMF issued a statement that Álvaro Morales described as “intimidating”: any player who does not show up today at 8 PM is out of the World Cup.
The acidic vision of “Tuca” Ferretti
With his unmistakable style and decades of experience, Ricardo “El Tuca” Ferretti held nothing back.
For the strategist, all this mess is the result of mediocre planning that has been dragging on for 40 years.
“Taking 12 players out of the playoffs has no purpose. You’re not going to win anything in two weeks with 12 players and 14 sparring partners,” said Tuca, harshly criticizing the fact that clubs are being harmed by a training camp that he considers miscalculated.
Ferretti, whose track record as the most successful coach of the modern era gives him moral authority, made it clear that managers will always look out for their own pocketbook: “I support the national team as long as it doesn’t hurt my team”.
Pact broken in the Mexican National Team
During the debate, Fernando Ceballos and Dionisio Estrada pointed out that this disorder did not happen by accident.
Someone within the FMF gave the “green light” to Toluca, overruling Javier Aguirre.
The names of Mikel Arriola, Ivar Sisniega and even Duilio Davino came to the table as possible culprits who could pay the price for this “earthquake”.
The treatment of legends: The Gignac case
To close with a flourish, the panel discussed the bitter treatment that the Tigres board is giving André-Pierre Gignac in the final stretch of his contract.
El Tuca, who coached the Frenchman in his golden era, regretted that the club’s greatest legend was not given a dignified farewell.
The episode is now available on QuéOnnda TV’s YouTube channel, where you can also listen to other titles promoted by QuéOnnda and Nueva Network, such as La Jugada Final.
Do you think Amauri was right to demand that the pact be respected or should the national team be above any club?
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Filed under: Broken Pact Mexican National Team
