AFP, Mexico City :
Mexico coach Miguel Herrera, famous for his sideline celebrations during last year’s World Cup, said Thursday he expects more of the same during the Copa America despite not calling up his biggest stars.
Herrera, a former hard-tackling defender nicknamed “The Louse,” told AFP in an interview that he wanted his team to perform well in Chile after a dismal 2011 campaign in Argentina.
But the 47-year-old manager has saved his best players for the Gold Cup in July, the tournament of the CONCACAF nations from North and Central America and the Caribbean.
Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez, currently on loan at Real Madrid, Real Sociedad forward Carlos Vela and Villareal’s Giovani dos Santos were all left out of tje Copa squad, along with Dutch league player of the year Andres Guardado of PSV Eindhoven.
Instead, Atletico Madrid forward Raul Jimenez and veteran defender Rafa Marquez of Italian side Verona will lead the Copa America squad in the June 11-July 4 tournament.
“We have put together a team with experience and youth. None of them are little boys. They are young men who are first choice on their teams,” Herrera said.
While Mexico failed to win any games at the 2011 Copa, Herrera noted that CONCACAF had restricted the team to under-23 players.
Although Mexico is part of CONCACAF, where it faces off against its arch-rivals the United States, the country is invited to play in South America’s own championship, which this year will feature Neymar for Brazil and Lionel Messi for Argentina.
Asked about his decision to leave out Hernandez and other stars, he said:
“You feel like you could have put together a better side. But unfortunately the competitions are coinciding.”
Mexico coach Miguel Herrera, famous for his sideline celebrations during last year’s World Cup, said Thursday he expects more of the same during the Copa America despite not calling up his biggest stars.
Herrera, a former hard-tackling defender nicknamed “The Louse,” told AFP in an interview that he wanted his team to perform well in Chile after a dismal 2011 campaign in Argentina.
But the 47-year-old manager has saved his best players for the Gold Cup in July, the tournament of the CONCACAF nations from North and Central America and the Caribbean.
Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez, currently on loan at Real Madrid, Real Sociedad forward Carlos Vela and Villareal’s Giovani dos Santos were all left out of tje Copa squad, along with Dutch league player of the year Andres Guardado of PSV Eindhoven.
Instead, Atletico Madrid forward Raul Jimenez and veteran defender Rafa Marquez of Italian side Verona will lead the Copa America squad in the June 11-July 4 tournament.
“We have put together a team with experience and youth. None of them are little boys. They are young men who are first choice on their teams,” Herrera said.
While Mexico failed to win any games at the 2011 Copa, Herrera noted that CONCACAF had restricted the team to under-23 players.
Although Mexico is part of CONCACAF, where it faces off against its arch-rivals the United States, the country is invited to play in South America’s own championship, which this year will feature Neymar for Brazil and Lionel Messi for Argentina.
Asked about his decision to leave out Hernandez and other stars, he said:
“You feel like you could have put together a better side. But unfortunately the competitions are coinciding.”
