Jaime Lozano acknowledged that he knows where he stands and although at first it was said that his project was not based on the results of the Copa América 2024, finally the cost of the result against Venezuela has him in the middle of a crisis that affects his continuity and depends on the result against Ecuador this Sunday in Glendale, Arizona.
“I am calm because what the team has shown on the field, that at the beginning, there have been two good games, especially the second one, the result was not what we expected, but we have already turned it around and we are already thinking about Ecuador, We knew that we were going to risk something against Ecuador, maybe first place, but now we have to stay alive, so for us this game is like risking our lives in the round of 16, to win or die, it has always been an important game, but It gives me peace of mind how the team is, we are strong, we are good and that is a game to do well, we have to improve points and the goal they scored against us from a penalty was fortuitous and we hope to improve.”
Lozano, regarding the game against Ecuador, said that he is not interested in the current environment and that he is only focused on preparing his players as best as possible: “I live it focused on my work, focused on seeing how we can win games, which is what concerns me, “Let’s see how I choose what I think, they are in a better moment and they can give us a better result for the next game.”
In this regard, he added that: “That is my job and they hired me specifically for that, for a process in which there are players who, especially in this Copa América, were important to support. empower them, see them, compete against teams obviously from an important hierarchy and that is what I do, the truth is that everything that is generated around and will destabilize some more than others and especially the younger ones who are more in contact with social networks” .
He also said regarding criticism of his work with the Mexican national team that: “For my part, the truth is that a long time ago I learned to know how to listen to people who have something to contribute, I am a very open person, especially to bad or criticism, yes to points of view, but as long as the intention is to addso from that perspective I understand the environment I am in, I understand the work of many people and what I am most looking for is for the national team to have the greatest possible stability and be able to go out and perform better.”
Regarding the comments by Santiago Giménez’s father that sometimes he makes him play out of obligation and not because he has confidence in his ability as a forward for the Mexican national team, He explained: “It’s all too understandable. You want the best for your people, and that’s what happened to me as a player. I understood what my wife, my father and my loved ones thought, they always want the best for you. I understand that and I fully trust Johan, as I do Santi, Memo, as I do everyone. If I brought them, how do you think I wouldn’t trust the players I brought? But people don’t understand that the only thing that matters to the coach is that the team does well, not one, two or three players. I understand that perfectly and we want the best for those we love.”
Tactical variants
Jaime Lozano explained that the perception that his style does not have tactical variants is wrong: “I have heard a lot of talk about the 4-4-3 and I have not even defended it, but rather explained it in this short time in conferences, we start from one formation, but then we play in another, in the Gold Cup I was never 4-3-3 and that was insisted on, because we always served the ball with three from the bottom, which is why it is not a 4-4-3. Of course we have variants, we have not been tied to this formation, but if we have played good games, the team has been on the rise and I think a very frivolous analysis is made.”
Keep reading:
-They assure that the Brazilian André Jardine will be the replacement for Jaime Lozano
-Mexico between doubts and injuries for the duel vs. Ecuador
-Jaime Lozano gives a vote of confidence to Santiago Giménez