ATLANTA, Georgia – The manager of the Mexico national team, Colombian Juan Carlos Osorio, made it clear that the objective for the Copa América Centenario is to finish within the top three places.
Osorio, accompanied by sports director of national selections, Santiago Baños, attended a press conference at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, where the “Tricolor,” to which the Mexican selection team is casually referred, will play a preparation match against Paraguay on May 28.
“In the Copa América we are considering a goal to be among the top three, and to hopefully reach the final. We are doing everything to compete, having the privilege of making a great cup by competing with the best,” Osorio said.
He considers that the current moment of selection allows them to conceive of a great performance for the continental competition, that will take place in a country where the “Tri” is well received.
“We believe that Mexican soccer is in good moment, and to play in the United States, where the selection is very well supported. I repeat, we are taking it as a great opportunity to compete with the best and hopefully we can be among the top three,” he said.
It’s been said that players are pressured to wear the tricolor jersey, on the contrary Osorio said, everyone is proud to be part of the team.
He said that as a coach, one of his goals is to continue to contribute to “Aztec” football and that, “In our management, opportunity is given to new Mexican figures. It is one of our tasks, to export more football players abroad.”
On the other hand, as players who could be called to the Copa América and the 2016 Río Olympic Games, he said it will be in the coming weeks when to decide. “There will be some short-term decisions, but we hope to take them as an agreement with Raúl Gutiérrez (current coach for the Mexico U-23 Olympic team), seeking the best for Mexican soccer,” Osorio said.