Diego Cocca reacts to the painful defeat of Mexico against the United States

Photo: Etzel Espinosa / Imago7

The coach of Mexico, Argentine Diego Coccaadmitted this Thursday that The United States was far superior to the Tri in the painful 3-0 win in the semifinal of the Concacaf Champions League.

“I do not like lose. And there are ways to lose. There are times when you have to lose because this is football. But they really have surpassed us and you have to accept it and understand it“He said at a press conference.

With two goals from Christian Pulisic and one from Ricardo Pepi, The USA bypassed Mexico and will defend the title against Canada, which beat Panama 2-0 in the other semifinal.

Mexico has spent almost four years without defeating its great rival and accumulates aThe appalling streak of two draws and four losses in their last six meetings (including lost Gold Cup and Nations League finals in 2021).

The second half of the match was full of controversy, ended with two expelled by each team and also the game was suspended when there were still a few minutes to be played in the discount of the second part due to the homophobic shouts that were heard in the stands.

“We are hurt by the defeat, by the way“said Cocca, whose project with Mexico is in doubt after assuming the bench in February, replacing his compatriot Gerardo Martino.

“We wanted to propose a game in which we could, with our structure, try to handle the ball, to be able to find goal situations and filtered passes. I think that at the beginning we had it, but, of course, we did not have the assertiveness to be able to finish in a goal”, argument.

“A long, disputed, even game was taking place. But we made another mistake and, as we said that mistakes are expensive, we paid dearly and they scored a goal for us. And in the second half, we talked in the dressing room to continue in the same way, that nothing happened with a goal, but one minute (of the second half) they make us 2-0 and that conditions you a lot, “he added.

Asked if he was considering resigning, Cocca was convinced of his project and his players.

“I repeat the same as always: I dream of a process of three and a half years (until the 2026 World Cup) and it will take four months”, said.

The Argentine urged everyone to join forces, from the players to the federation executives, to improve “not only in football.”

“On the contrary. There is a lot of mentality, of attitudes, of a lot of situations that we have to work together. If we are to believe that we are going to solve it in four months, we are completely wrong. ANDThis is a sign that there is still much to improve“, he indicated.

“First we have to understand where we stand and that we have to improve to be able to be at another level. These games help us a lot. From this we must draw conclusions, unite and know where we have to go together. If we don’t go together, it will be very difficult“he added.

The coach explained that his job is to “convince” not only the players “but also the managers” of the Mexican federation that they are “on the right track.”

“If the managers do not agree with what I think, I have no problem (…). What they told me is that I have full support and that is seen in difficult times, “he said before stressing that he is” calm “about his position.

The media also asked Cocca about the attitude of the fans, implicitly alluding to the homophobic shouting that once again stained a match for the Mexican team, and the coach insisted on “the same message” as his players.

“We have to work together, all of us, if we want to change the Mexican team. And the most difficult and most important thing to change is the mentality. and that takes time”, he detailed.

Keep reading:
· Mexico was surpassed once again by the United States and the memes put their finger on the wound of El Tri
· The kick of frustration: César Montes started a pitched battle with a hard tackle on Folarin Balogun
· Are Mexican fans against Diego Cocca?