Después de la bochornosa actuación en el Mundial y tras los primeros partidos del tan efímero proceso de Diego Cocca, el Tri necesitaba alguien que calmara las aguas. Que le diera cierta dirección a una selección que tenía como único destino el abismo concacafkiano, que tanto nos ha perseguido desde aquel proceso del Chepo.
I think Jimmy Lozano brought a sense of peace and connection between coaching staff and players the national team hadn’t seen since the Piojo Herrera days, specifically in those 2014 days. Things in 2015 started to head in the wrong direction as Herrera blasted the idea that the national team had the capabilities to compete in the Gold Cup and Copa America with two different squads. Yes, they won the Gold Cup, but at what cost? A punch to Martinoli that derailed Piojo’s aspirations to coach El Tri in back-to-back World Cups.
Jimmy brought a sense of respect and connectivity to the national that was desperately needed. One of the aspects that really tarnished Tata Martino’s proceso was his poor involvement in all things Mexican football; he didn’t care about Mexican football’s future, or if his tenure was going to leave some sort of style behind, he only cared about the paycheck and who would blame him if the president in charge didn’t really give a damn.
Muchos dirán that Juan Carlos “La Bomba” Rodríguez is a man that doesn’t know much about the sporting side of things, but we have to applaud how quickly he reacted after the US easily defeated El Tri this summer. There was no possible excuse to save and keep Cocca. He never had the background to become El Tri’s manager in the first place.
La Bomba didn’t waste time and gave Jimmy an opportunity of a lifetime, and the Hecho en CU legend made sure to take advantage of it. Many will say that it was a poor Gold Cup because Canada and the US didn’t take their strongest teams, and El Tri did. But brushing that side, the team showed unity. Mostraron corazón y garra, algo que jamás se vio con Cocca y mucho menos con Martino en el Mundial.
Siempre queremos soñar en grande, pensar que llegaremos lejos en un Mundial, ahora con el LamborJimmy las cosas serán mejores, eso pensamos y deseamos. But the reality is that our player pool is as weak as it has ever been. We’re living in a time when Liga MX teams are participating in a Cup that’s only played in the US. Many years ago, Liga MX teams were main players in the Copa Libertadores knockout stages.
This era is best showcased by Chivas, who not long ago was playing in Copa Libertadores finals. For them the Leagues Cup felt so unexciting and unappealing that they were out after playing two games. It’s not worth it, risking injuries in a tournament that doesn’t have nowhere near the respect and history that the Libertadores owns. Chivas knows it. Maybe the Leagues Cup will eventually turn into something Liga MX clubs will respect more, but as of right now, that’s not the case.
Let’s sit back and relax, try to take part in these reunions with Jimmy Lozano’s El Tri. Try to get a bit of it this Fall, interact with it and enjoy it. We only have one team, it’s El Tri, y lo apoyaremos en las buenas y malas. Gracias Jimmy for returning that pride and connection to our team, nuestra selección tricolor.