Coach Argentinian Diego Cocca ruled out this Tuesday that he has an interest in occupying the vacant position of selector of Mexico because he feels happy in his nascent project as technical director of the UANL Tigers.
“I owe a lot to Mexico. I am grateful to the country, I continue to enjoy Mexican soccer and I hope it gives me much more, but I’m involved with Tigres. I have enough work ahead of me; I’m happy where I am“He explained at a press conference from the preseason.
Cocca is one of the favorites by the Mexican press and fans to fill the position vacated by Gerardo Martino, who ended his contract with the Mexican Football Federation after the elimination of El Tri in the group stage of the World Cup in Qatar.
The Argentine strategist was put in the deck of successors to ‘Tata’ because he won a two-time championship last season with Atlas in the local league, however his project in the Tigres begins in the Clausura 2023 that will start next January.
“It made me sad that Mexico was left out of the World Cup because it is a competitive league that has a lot to give and grow. I am fond of Martino, but unfortunately things did not go as expected,” added the league champion with the Argentine Racing Club .
Regarding the hostile reception that some of the fans gave Martino when he landed in Mexico City, Cocca admitted that the coaches are exposed to that. When Martino arrived, some El Tri fans insulted him and complained about Mexico’s failure, which ended his record of qualifying for the round of 16 in the last seven World Cups, which he shared only with Brazil.
At the Mexico City airport there were even blows from the Argentine Norberto Scoponi, assistant to ‘Tata’, who repeatedly slapped one of the followers who recriminated Martino. “I will always defend my colleagues. Martino did the best possible within his possibilities, but that does not mean that he did the best. We are exposed, they are the rules of the game and it can happen,” Cocca said.
EFE
